Nov. 6, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. – After being selected to repeat as Southeastern Conference champions by the media, the No. 6/7 University of Kentucky women’s basketball team also was picked by the league’s coaches as the preseason favorite to win the 2012-13 title the conference office announced Tuesday.

Senior guard A’dia Mathies, the 2012 SEC Player of the Year, was tabbed the preseason player of the year, while junior forward Samarie Walker and sophomore guard Bria Goss were recognized on the All-SEC second team.

Sixth-year head coach Matthew Mitchell’s squad received 167 voting points, topping Georgia who finished with the second most points of 149. The Wildcats enter the 2012-13 season as the SEC’s team to beat after recording a school-record 13 league wins and advancing to the Elite Eight a year ago.

Mathies, who was also was named the preseason player of the year by the media, garnered nine of the possible 13 player of the year votes. The 5-foot-9 guard returns for her senior campaign after leading the 2011-12 Cats in scoring (15.0 ppg), assists (2.7 apg), steals (2.6 spg) and 3-point field goal percentage (.378). The Louisville, Ky., native, ranks No. 12 on the school’s career scoring charts (1,435) and No. 6 on the career steals list (251). She is currently on the “Wade Watch” list for the nation’s top player.

Walker, a native of West Carrollton, Ohio, led the Wildcats in rebounds last season, corralling 7.2 boards per contest. The 2012 NCAA Tournament Kingston All-Region team member finished second on the squad in field goal percentage (.484) and blocks (22), and was third with 9.7 points per game.

The reigning SEC freshman of the year, Goss, started all 35 games last season, while finishing second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg). The Indianapolis native also ranked third on the squad in steals (1.43 spg), rebounds (4.0 rpg) and assists (1.49).

The Wildcats opened their 2012-13 season on Monday with an exhibition contest vs. Bellarmine University. UK dominated the Knights 113-33 as six players scored in double figures. Walker led with 19 points.

Kentucky tips off the regular season Saturday, Nov. 10 against Delaware State at 1 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum.

Season tickets are on sale for the entire home schedule for $65. Lower-level chair back seating ($80) is sold out.

Single-game reserved tickets are available at a cost of $9 for all ages. General admission tickets for adults are $8 while single-game general admission tickets for seniors and children (ages 6-18, 65 and over) are only $5. Children ages five and under are admitted free in the general admission seating area.

Group tickets for the “Pack the House” game vs. DePaul on Dec. 7 in Rupp Arena are also available. Purchase 20 or more for just $3 per ticket or purchase 50 or more for just $1 per ticket. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free of charge in the general admission seating area.

All groups are welcome and will be given seating on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Nathan.Schwake@uky.edu to purchase group tickets for the DePaul game.
Fans interested in season tickets can go to UKathletics.com or call the UK ticket office at 1-800-928-CATS.

Follow UK Hoops on Twitter and Instagram at @UKHoopCats and on Facebook by liking University of Kentucky Women’s Basketball.

Teams


1. Kentucky     
            
167


2. Georgia                     149
3. Texas A&M               145
4. Vanderbilt                  143
5. Tennessee                117
6. South Carolina           102
7. LSU                          96
8. Florida                       92
9. Arkansas                   72
10. Auburn                    57
11. Mississippi State      51
t12. Alabama                 33
t12. Missouri                 33
14. Ole miss                  17

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC      
Sarah Watkins, Arkansas
Jennifer George, Florida
Anne Marie Armstrong, Georgia
Jasmine Hassell, Georgia

A’dia Mathies, Kentucky


Meighan Simmons, Tennessee
Kelsey Bone, Texas A&M
Christina Foggie, Vanderbilt
Jasmine Lister, Vanderbilt

SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
Jasmine James, Georgia


Bria Goss, Kentucky




Samarie Walker, Kentucky


Adrienne Webb, LSU
Valencia McFarland, Ole Miss
Ieasia Walker, South Carolina
Ariel Massengale, Tennessee
Tiffany Clarke, Vanderbilt

PLAYER OF THE YEAR    

A’dia Mathies, Kentucky
                      
9


Christina Foggie, Vanderbilt                  3
Anne Marie Armstrong, Georgia             1