LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky women?s basketball team returns to Rupp Arena for their final home game of the regular season when they take on Arkansas Sunday, Feb. 18. UK, which will honor its three seniors in a special pre-game ceremony, looks to snap a two-game losing streak and make a push for higher seeding in the upcoming Southeastern Conference Tournament. Tip-off is slated for Noon EST and the game will be carried live on the Big Blue Sports Network (radio and television). The first 1,500 fans will receive a free UK Hoops towel.
Single-game general admission tickets are available for purchase $5 adults/$2 senior citizens and children 6-18. Ages five and under are admitted free. UK students, faculty and staff also are admitted free with valid identification based on availability. For ticket information, log on to ukathletics.com or call the UK ticket office at 859-257-1818 or 1-800-928-CATS (2287).
Sunday?s game marks the final regular-season home game for seniors Nastassia Alcius (Lexington, Ky.), Jennifer Humphrey (Memphis, Tenn.) and Jenny Pfeiffer (North Vernon, Ind.), who along with senior managers Emily Jones and Frederick Perry, will be honored prior to tip-off.
?Sunday is a big game for us with two games left before the SEC Tournament,? UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. ?It?s also a big game for our three seniors. Senior Day is always an emotional time for everyone and our seniors have meant a great deal to this program. These close games that we have had this season really have tested our character. We have been able to regroup and get some good wins. We have to dig down a little deeper to grind these games out. Arkansas is a very talented team and right now every team is fighting to win. ?
The Cats (16-11, 5-7 Southeastern Conference), who are currently tied for seventh with South Carolina in the league standings, fell in a heart-breaker on Thursday to No. 11/12 Georgia, 82-72, in overtime, in their third overtime game of the season. Four of UK?s five starters scored in double figures, led by junior guard Samantha Mahoney?s (Detroit) 23 points. Junior center Sarah Elliott (McKee, Ky.) followed with 17, while sophomore point guard Carly Ormerod (Louisville, Ky.) and Humphrey posted 14 and 13 points, respectively. Humphrey led the Cats on the boards with nine and moved ahead of former Wildcat Leslie Nichols at No.2 on UK?s all-time rebounding list.
Elliott is averaging a squad-best 13.7 ppg, including a team-high 14.1 ppg in SEC play. Mahoney follows close behind with 13.3 ppg. Humphrey is averaging a team-best 9.9 rpg and ranks third in the SEC in rebounding behind Arkansas? leading scorer and rebounder, Lauren Ervin.
The Lady Backs (18-9, 3-8 SEC) are an improved team from a year ago, moving from 13-15 in 2005-06 to an 18-9 mark this year. However, eight of Arkansas? nine losses have come in conference play and the Lady Backs enter Sunday?s game on a six-game losing streak. Arkansas’ three SEC wins came over Auburn, Alabama and Florida.
Junior forward/center Lauren Ervin leads the way for Arkansas as she is the school?s first player to average a double-double since the late 1980s. Ervin averages 12.9 ppg and 10.2 rpg. She is one of only two players in the league to be averaging a double-double. (LSU?s Sylvia Fowles is the other). She also ranks in the top 25 in the nation in rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage. Following Ervin in the scoring column is 5-7 freshman Donica Cosey. She is averaging 12.1 points per game, including 12.0 in conference games.
Arkansas and Kentucky meet for the 21st time in school history. The Lady Backs lead the series 12-8, but the Wildcats hold a 6-3 advantage when the game is played in Lexington. The Cats have won two consecutive over Arkansas, including a 79-50 win last season in Fayetteville. It was Kentucky?s largest road SEC victory in school history and its first-ever win in Fayetteville.
UK is 18-8 all-time in Rupp Arena, 1-2 this season.
