Wildcats to play 16 home games this season, including four at Rupp Arena

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Nine meetings with 2004-05 postseason participants and four games in Rupp Arena headline the 2005-06 University of Kentucky women’s basketball schedule, UK Coach Mickie DeMoss announced Thursday.

The Wildcats, who completed their longest postseason run in school history last season with a Women’s National Invitation Tournament semifinal appearance, will play host to 16 home games this year, including a pair of exhibition contests. Nine teams on Kentucky’s slate participated in postseason play last March and four schools on the schedule, all Southeastern Conference teams, were ranked in the nation’s final top 25 Associated Press poll.

“We are very excited about this season’s schedule,” said DeMoss, who enters her third season as the Wildcats’ head coach. “We’re extremely happy that we will be able to play 16 home games in front of our terrific crowd that has given us so much support.

“I think the tough games we are playing, from some of the nation’s top conferences, will really help us prepare for both the SEC and postseason play.”

After two exhibition games in early November commence the schedule, the Wildcats host a pair of games against IUPUI (Nov. 18) and Stetson (Nov. 22) to open the non-conference slate. The Cats then head to the Pepperdine Tournament in Malibu, Calif., over the Thanksgiving holidays, where they will meet 2004-05 WNIT participant Indiana State in the opening game Nov. 25. UK will then face either Hofstra or the host Waves Nov. 26.

Kentucky returns home from its west-coast swing to host a three-game homestand. The Wildcats begin with Florida International Dec. 1 in Memorial Coliseum before playing host to North Carolina A& T (Dec. 6) and the Hoyas of Georgetown University (Dec. 8).

The Wildcats hit the road Dec. 10 to face Detroit-Mercy in a homecoming for Motor City natives Chante’ Bowman and Samantha Mahoney.

“It’s always special when you’re able to go back home and play in front of your hometown crowd,” DeMoss said. “I know these two young ladies will be excited about seeing their families and friends.”

Kentucky returns to the friendly confines of Memorial Coliseum in late December for three consecutive games.

The highlight will be a showdown with 2005 Final Four participant LSU Dec. 18 to open conference play. The game will be a regionally televised contest on Fox Sports Net South. The Lady Tigers are the reigning league champions and ranked No. 2 in the final 2004-05 AP poll. The Cats then face Ohio Valley Conference member Tennessee State (Dec. 22) before returning to Rupp Arena for a battle with in-state rival Louisville (Dec. 28).

After posting a key 66-61 victory over Wake Forest in Rupp Arena last season, the Wildcats travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., Dec. 31 looking to continue their winning ways against the Demon Deacons. UK returns to Memorial Coliseum to ring in the new year Jan. 2 with its first meeting against Bowling Green State.

Kentucky also will participate in the Russell Athletic Shootout Jan. 15 in Duluth, Ga., against ACC power Georgia Tech in an ACC/SEC Showdown.

The SEC schedule features home-and-home series with Florida, Ole Miss and South Carolina. The highlight of the league slate will be a Jan. 26 meeting with the Tennessee Lady Vols, the 2005 SEC Tournament Champions, in Rupp Arena. The Cats also will face Auburn in Rupp Arena Jan. 19.

The Wildcats’ two seniors-Jennifer Humphrey and Stephanie Stumbo-will be honored in a pre-game ceremony prior to Kentucky’s last home game against Alabama Feb. 26. It will marks UK’s first Senior Day ceremony in Rupp Arena. The Cats will be looking for revenge after dropping a thrilling 69-63 overtime decision to the Tide last season in Tuscaloosa.

The 2006 SEC Tournament returns to North Little Rock, Ark., March 2-5 at the Alltel Arena.

All UK Hoops games will be heard live on the Big Blue Network and ukathletics.com

Other highlights of the schedule include:

• UK will play 16 home games this season, including two exhibition contests, with four games to be played at Rupp Arena (Auburn, Alabama, Louisville and Tennessee). This is the first time in school history UK will play four games in a single season in Rupp Arena.
• Nine of UK’s opponents (five NCAA, four WNIT) advanced to post-season play, including four teams ranked in the final Top 25 polls.
• UK will honor two seniors (Jennifer Humphrey and Stephanie Stumbo) on Sunday, Feb. 26 during Senior Day ceremonies prior to the Cats tipping off against Alabama in Rupp Arena.
• In the rotating SEC 14-game schedule, the Cats will face Florida, Ole Miss and South Carolina in home-and-home series this season. UK will play UF and Ole Miss in a home-and-home series until 2007. South Carolina remains as the Cats’ permanent SEC home-and-home opponent.