LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky women?s basketball team travels to Auburn Sunday, Jan. 21 looking to get back on the winning track after dropping three of their last four games. The Wildcats also look to capture their first win over Auburn in eight tries and get their first win in Auburn, Ala., since 1998. The game will tip off at 3 p.m. EST in Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. The Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with Neil Price will broadcast the game live.
Kentucky (13-6, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) is coming off a tough week after falling at home in overtime last Sunday to a hot-streaking Ole Miss team, 67-65, before dropping a 76-58 decision to No. 8 LSU in Baton Rouge. LSU broke out to a 17-2 lead over the first 7:25 of the game as Kentucky missed nine of its first 10 shots. The Lady Tigers never looked back, leading by as many as 31 points in the game. The Cats pulled within 14 mid-way through the second half but could get no closer. LSU?s top-ranked defense helped force UK into committing 20 turnovers, 17 in the first half alone. Junior center Sarah Elliott led all scorers with 19 points while junior guard Samantha Mahoney followed with 17.
?We?ve got to put our last couple of games behind us,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?We?ve been back in practice working on getting better and that?s what we need to concentrate on right now. Auburn is a very talented team and playing on the road in this league is tough no matter the opponent. We must do a better job of limiting our turnovers against this quick, athletic team. ?
Kentucky is led in scoring this season by Elliott and Mahoney. The junior duo average 14.1 and 13.7 ppg, including 18.0 and 16.0 ppg in conference play, respectively. Mahoney needs just seven points to become the 25th Wildcat in school history to chart 1,000 points in her career. Senior forward/center Jennifer Humphrey leads the team in rebounding with 9.1 boards per game. With four rebounds vs. LSU, she is now tied with Debra Oden (1976-80) as UK?s third all-time leading rebounder.
Auburn (15-5, 2-2 SEC) split games last week, falling to No. 25 Arkansas, 65-62, at home before charting a 74-69 road-win against Florida. The Tigers? only other league loss came against Ole Miss in their SEC opener, 74-66.
Sophomore guard DeWanna Bonner leads Auburn in scoring, averaging 15.7 points a game. She also is the team?s leading rebounder with 9.1 rebounds a game. Following Bonner in the scoring column is sophomore guard Sherell Hobbs with 12.0.
Sunday?s matchup showcases two of the SEC?s top defensive teams. The Wildcats rank 22nd in the nation and second in the SEC in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to just 35.6 shooting from the floor. Auburn ranks fourth in the league in that category, holding teams to 36.5 percent shooting. Both teams also rank in the top five in rebounding categories. Auburn is third in the SEC, outrebounding opponents by +7.8 while Kentucky holds a +6.9 rebounding average (5th in the SEC). Humphrey, UK?s top rebounder, and Auburn?s DeWanna Bonner both average 9.1 rebounds per game.
Sunday will be the 33rd meeting in the all-time series with Auburn owning a 23-9 advantage, including a 9-5 lead over Kentucky in Auburn. The Cats are looking to snap an eight-game losing streak to Auburn, their last win coming on January 6, 2000. UK fell 71-57 in the teams? regular season meeting last season in Rupp Arena.
UK?s last win over the Tigers in Auburn, Ala., was Dec. 6, 1998 when the Wildcats won 68-62.
Kentucky returns home for its next game. The Wildcats play host to Mississippi State in Rupp Arena Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. EST.
