Feb. 8, 2002
Lexington, Ky. – Kentucky and ninth-ranked South Carolina meet in a rematch game on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcast live on WLXG-AM Sports Radio 1300 with Chris Cross and the first 500 fans will receive a free UK Women’s Basketball Rally Towel.
The teams met just three weekends ago in Columbia, S.C., which saw Kentucky fall 78-49 to then-ranked No. 8 Lady Gamecocks. Since the teams last met, South Carolina has gone 2-1 while the Wildcats have gone 0-4.
“In order to beat this team we have to limit our turnovers,” UK Coach Bernadette Mattox said. “They lead the conference in steals and they will capitalize on our turnovers. We need to take care of the basketball and step up and play with intensity.”
This marks the 28th meeting in the series with Kentucky holding a 17-10 advantage, including a 9-2 lead when playing in Lexington. Although the Lady Gamecocks have won the three of the last four meetings, the Wildcats have won five straight against USC in Lexington.
Sophomore SeSe Helm and senior LaTonya McDole snapped out of scoring slumps to lead Kentucky with 20 points apiece at Ole Miss. Helm is UK’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. McDole’s 20-point performance was a season-high. She also hit a three-pointer against the Lady Rebels, marking her first “trey” since Dec. 1, 2000. McDole is the team’s third-leading scorer with 8.8 ppg.
Ninth-ranked South Carolina travels to Lexington after defeating No. 19 Georgia on Thursday in Columbia, 64-59. The Lady Gamecocks are 19-3 overall, 7-2 in the SEC. They are currently second in the SEC standings behind Tennessee.
Junior forward Jocelyn Penn and senior guard Shaun Gortman lead the Lady Gamecocks in scoring, averaging 17.5 and 14.4 points per game, respectively. Penn, who charted a game-high 29 points against Florida last Sunday, is the also the team’s leading rebounder, grabbing 6.9 rebounds per game.Coach Susan Walvius is in her fifth season at the helm of the Lady Gamecocks.
The remainder of UK’s schedule doesn’t get any easier as three of its next four opponents are ranked in the Top 15 (No. 14 Florida, No. 6 Vanderbilt and No. 3 Tennessee).
