A group of remarkable women from the University of Kentucky gathered together at Dudley?s Restaurant Tuesday, June 20 for a special tribute to Coach Mickie DeMoss for leading the Kentucky women?s basketball to a ?Season of Firsts.”

The event was hosted by Carol E. Jordan, Director of UK?s Center for Research on Violence Against Women and Debbie Long, owner of Dudley?s Restaurant. Co-hosts were Patsy B. Todd, First Lady; Mira S. Ball, Board of Trustees; Wendy Baldwin, Executive Vice President for Research; Jeannine L. Blackwell, Dean of the Graduate School; Carol P. Diedrichs, Dean of Libraries; Lori S. Gonzalez, Dean of Health Sciences; Kay S. Hoffman, Dean of Social Work; Sharon P. Turner, Dean of Dentistry; Carolyn A. Williams, Dean of Nursing; Dorothy Y. Brockopp, President?s Commission on Women; Connie Barnhart, UK Athletics.

?Whether working in research, teaching administration or athletics, women at the University of Kentucky excel. We measure success, not just in individual achievement, but also by how we mentor young women and build teams to reach our fullest potential. No one exemplifies these two measures more than Coach Mickie DeMoss.?
– Carol Jordan

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2005-06 Kentucky Women’s Basketball
A Season of Firsts

Kentucky?s record-breaking season came to an end with a heartbreaking loss to No. 16/17 and fourth-seeded Michigan State, 67-63, in the NCAA second round. Coach Mickie DeMoss, who was named the SEC Coach of the Year by the SEC coaches and The Associated Press, led the Wildcats to a remarkable season of firsts in just her third year at the helm. DeMoss piloted a team that went from winning a combined 20 games in the two years prior to her arrival in 2003, to a record-breaking regular season that included the most wins (22) since 1989-90, the most conference wins in school history (nine), the highest conference finish (fourth) in 23 years, an appearance in the SEC Tournament semifinals for the first time in seven years, and UK?s first bid in the NCAA Tournament in seven years with its highest seed (fifth) since 1983. The Cats now have their sights set on next season as all but one senior, Stephanie Stumbo, returns. UK also adds four prep standouts in Arnika Brown, Lydia Watkins, Brittany Edelen, and Amani Franklin. The incoming class was ranked 23rd nationally by the Blue Star Index.

Most wins (22) in 16 years (1989-90)

School-record nine SEC wins and highest conference finish (fourth) in 23 years (1982-83)

First 20-win season since 1998-99

First appearance in the NCAA Tournament in seven years (1998-99)

First-round bye in the SEC Tournament for the first time since 1991

A top 25 ranking in both national polls (No. 21/23) for the first time since 1992-93

First appearance in the SEC Tournament semifinals since 1999

School-record five SEC road wins

School-record four consecutive wins over SEC opponents

School-record attendance of 13,689 fans vs. No. 1 Tennessee on Jan. 26, 2006

First win over a top-ranked team in school history by defeating No. 1 Tennessee, 66-63

One of just four unranked teams in the history of NCAA women?s basketball to knock off a No. 1 team

Defeated Arkansas in Fayetteville for the first time in school history. The 29-point margin was the largest SEC win in school history for the Cats

Mickie DeMoss was named SEC Coach of the Year by the league coaches and the AP for the first time in UK women?s basketball history