Nov. 18, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Just two days removed from a thrilling come-from-behind victory over No. 8/9 Baylor in Rupp Arena, the No. 13/9 Kentucky women’s basketball team returns to Memorial Coliseum Wednesday, Nov. 19 to play host to Morehead State at 11 a.m. ET for its annual “Class of 2021 Day.” Over 1,500 sixth-graders from Fayette County schools, and their teachers, will be in attendance. It also marks the fourth annual “Terry Hall Memorial Classic” named for UK’s former all-time winningest coach, Terry Hall, who led the Wildcats from 1980-87.
|
| Kentucky vs. Appalachian State Friday, Nov. 14 – 7:00 p.m. ET Lexington, Ky. Game Notes: UK  | MSU Gameday Info |
| Coverage |
|---|
| Radio: UK Sports Network Live Video via SEC Network+ Online Audio Live Stats Text Updates |
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 and UK students, faculty and staff are admitted free with valid identification.
The Fayette County sixth-graders will be seated on the East side of the Coliseum. All other guests are asked to sit on the West side, behind the team benches. All seating on the West side will be general admission.
Fans interested in UK Hoops tickets can visit the Joe Craft Center ticket office, go to UKathletics.com, or call the UK ticket office at 1-800-928-CATS. Tickets are also available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The game will be live streamed on SEC Network+ with Jeff Piecoro and Christi Thomas calling the action. SEC Network+ is exclusively available on SECNetwork.com and on WatchESPN via computers, smartphones and tablets. The game also can be heard live on the UK Sports Radio Network with Neil Price.
“Morehead State will bring a very tough, very well-coached team into Memorial Coliseum,” UK Hoops head coach Matthew Mitchell said. “They have shown the ability already this season to go on the road and win. It takes tremendous toughness to go on the road early in the season and win. I am certain they will be fired up and ready to play. We must stay focused on being tough, fast and disruptive in order to meet the challenge that Morehead State poses.”
The Wildcats (2-0) look to open the season at 3-0 for the fifth time in the Matthew Mitchell era, including second straight, when it takes on the Eagles in Lexington for the first time since 2012. UK owns a 25-4 lead in the all-time series with Morehead, having won the last nine meetings by an average of 28.0 points. UK also has won 14 in a row vs. the Eagles in Lexington.
Mitchell got his head coach start at Morehead State, going 30-29 in his two seasons (2005-06 and 2006-07) at the helm. Now leading the Eagles is Greg Todd who came to Morehead after eight years at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky. He also spent seven seasons at Lexington Catholic High School where he claimed three state titles.
He has led the Eagles to a 2-0 start to the season with road wins over Norfolk State (83-66) and George Mason (79-70). Leading the way is Eriel McKee and Shay Steele who are averaging 20.0 points per game apiece.
Kentucky is led by senior guard Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.) who ranks tied for fourth in the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 21.0 points per game. She poured in 20 points vs. Appalachian State in the season opener and charted a team-high 22 points vs. Baylor on Monday. With 18 of her 22 points coming in the decisive second half vs. the Lady Bears, O’Neill became the 30th member of UK’s 1,000-point club and now needs just six points to move up to No. 29 on the all-time scoring list.
Sophomore guards Linnae Harper (Chicago) and Makayla Epps (Lebanon, Ky.) follow O’Neill in the scoring column, each averaging 14.0 points per game. Harper is also UK’s leading rebounder with 6.5 rpg.
Kentucky came up with the “Terry Hall Memorial Classic” in 2011-12 to honor the former all-time winningest coach in UK Hoops history, Terry Hall.
Coach Hall coached the Cats to seven consecutive winning seasons from 1980-87, charting a 138-66 overall record (67.7%). She now owns the second-most wins and second-best winning percentage behind Matthew Mitchell.
She started with a 25-6 record in 1980-81 and a trip to the second round of the AIAW national tournament before falling by one point to Maryland. The NCAA welcomed women’s basketball into its ranks the following year, and that historical season ended with the Cats falling to eventual national champion Louisiana Tech in the Midwest Regional finals on the Lady Techsters’ home floor. After the Cats failed to make the NCAA tournament in 1986-87, Hall left coaching for the business sector. But three years later, she accepted the head coaching job at Wright State University, where she coached for seven years before succumbing to cancer in 1997.
Important Parking Information:
All fans and media without a valid UK parking pass are encouraged to park at the UK Soccer & Softball Complex or use Parking Structure #5 (also known as the South Limestone Garage) which will have very limited space available. A free shuttle service will be available from both the UK Soccer & Softball Complex and Parking Structure #5, beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET and running until 30 minutes into the game. The shuttle will resume 1.5 hours after tipoff.
Guests who park in Parking Structure #5 are asked to bring their white parking voucher pulled from the dispenser upon entry, and exchange it for a pink voucher at any entrance to Memorial Coliseum. The pink voucher will allow you to exit free of charge. Vouchers will be available at all entrances. See Event Staff for assistance.
For complete information regarding these special parking arrangements, please visit www.ukathletics.com/wbbgameday.
