Jan. 28, 2010

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Team Records and Series Notes

• Kentucky improves to 17-3, 5-2 in the Southeastern Conference. LSU falls to 14-5 overall, 3-4 in the SEC.
• The Wildcats recorded their first win against LSU since the 1999 SEC Tournament and notched their first win in Baton Rouge since Feb. 25, 1995 (63-49). UK had lost 16 consecutive games to LSU and eight in a row in Baton Rouge.
• With the 17th win of the year, Kentucky eclipsed the win total from the 2008-09 season (16-16).
• Kentucky has won four consecutive SEC games, marking the longest SEC win streak since winning four in a row during the 2005-06 season.
• UK improves to 2-1 against ranked teams this season as the Wildcats also defeated No. 17 Vanderbilt on Jan. 10.
  • The Wildcats have 35 upsets (a win over a higher ranked team) in program history, including two over LSU. UK also upset the 17th-ranked Lady Tigers in the SEC Tournament in 1999.
• This marks UK’s first win over a ranked foe on the road since 2008 when UK topped No. 17 Georgia, 47-44 in Athens, Ga.
• The Lady Tigers own a 28-8 overall series lead, including an 11-3 mark in Baton Rouge.
• UK head coach Matthew Mitchell improves his career record to 80-64, including a 50-35 mark at UK. The win marked his first career win over LSU, improving to 1-6 all-time against the Lady Tigers.
• This marks Mitchell’s sixth win over a ranked opponent in his three seasons at UK.
• Kentucky is 592-450 all-time in 36 years of varsity women’s basketball and owns a 114-205 all-time mark in SEC play.
• The Wildcats are 2-3 this season in games decided by 10 points or less and own a 24-22 record in close games under head coach Matthew Mitchell.
• Up next: Kentucky returns to action Sunday, facing Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Blue Sports Network, with the Voice of UK Hoops, Neil Price calling the action.

Team Notes

• Kentucky started with the lineup of Carly Morrow, Victoria Dunlap, Amber Smith, Amani Franklin and A’dia Mathies. UK has started with this lineup in 19 of 20 games, posting a 16-3 record.
• Key run: With the score tied at 57 with 6:47 to go, Kentucky outscored the Lady Tigers 14-3 and hit 10 of 13 free throws during that stretch for the victory.
• UK went 5-of-8 from behind the arc and has now made a three-pointer in 207 consecutive games, dating back to the 2003-04 season.
• Kentucky forced 14 LSU turnovers and has now forced all 20 opponents this season into double-digit turnovers.
• With the score tied at 36 at halftime, UK outscored LSU 35-26 in the second half to improve to 2-0 this season in games tied at halftime.
• The Wildcats held LSU to 38.3 percent (23-for-60) from the field and 36.4 percent (4-for-11) from behind the arc. UK has held 15 opponents to under 40-percent shooting from the field this season.
• UK is 11-1 this season when score 70 or more points.
• UK won the rebounding battle 36-33 and improves to 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the SEC when it outrebounds the opponent.

Individual Notes

• Junior forward Victoria Dunlap led UK with a team-high 24 points and nine rebounds in 34 minutes, adding two assists and two steals.
  • Dunlap has recorded at least one steal in 27 consecutive games. She needs two more to move into UK’s career top 10.
  • She has scored in double figures in 18 of 19 games played this season.
  • With 24 points, she has now scored 20 or more points 13 times in her career and eight games this season.
  • She now has 984 career points and is on track to join the 1,000-point club this season.
• Sophomore point guard and transfer from LSU Crystal Riley came off the bench to total a career-high 11 points in 20 minutes of action, adding a rebound and an assist.
  • Riley’s 11 points sets a new career high, eclipsing the previous mark of seven points against Georgia.
• Freshman guard A’dia Mathies finished with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and one steal in 33 minutes.
  • With eight rebounds, Mathies tied her career-high also set vs. Vanderbilt on Jan. 10.
  • She dished out a team-high four assists.
• Despite sitting out most of the first half with three fouls, junior point guard Amber Smith finished with 10 points, two assists and one rebound in 20 minutes.
• Senior forward Amani Franklin charted nine points, six rebounds and a game-high three steals in 31 minutes.