Oct. 4, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After its third consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, the Kentucky women’s basketball team has earned top-10 preseason rankings by Lindy’s Sports Magazine and Athlon Sports Magazine, which were released recently.
The Wildcats are coming off a year where they finished 28-7 and won just their second regular season Southeastern Conference title in school history and their first since 1981-82. After advancing to the 2012 Elite Eight, UK is ranked No. 7 by Lindy’s Sports and No. 9 by Athlon Sports.
Senior A’dia Mathies, the 2012 SEC Player of the Year was selected to the All-America First Team by Athlon Sports, while also being recognized on the All-America Second Team by Lindy’s Sports. Mathies, who was one of 25 players named to the preseason “Wade Watch” list, led UK last season in scoring (15 ppg), assists (2.7 apg), steals (2.6 spg) and 3-point field goal percentage (.378). The 5-foot-9 guard ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.1 rpg), 3-point field goals made (51) and was third in blocks (21). The Louisville, Ky., native has climbed to No. 12 on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,435 points and is sixth on the career steals list with 251.
UK head coach Matthew Mitchell welcomes back four starters from last season’s squad, including Mathies, SEC Freshman of the Year Bria Goss (Indianapolis) and NCAA Tournament Kingston All-Region team member Samarie Walker (West Carrollton, Ohio). UK will also welcome back Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.), who sat out the 2011-12 season due to injury, and DeNesha Stallworth (Richmond, Calif.), an All-Pac-10 selection, will see her first action after sitting out last season due to transfer regulations. New faces to the roster next season are sophomore junior college transfer Jelleah Sidney (Queens Village, N.Y.) and freshman McDonald’s All-American Janee Thompson (Chicago, Ill.).
The Wildcats open up the 2012-13 season with an exhibition against Bellarmine on Monday, Nov. 5 at 6:00 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum.
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