Dec. 26, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 12/13 University of Kentucky women’s basketball team looks to conclude 2014 and non-conference play when it plays host to the Tennessee State Lady Tigers Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be streamed live on the 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. Sophomore guard Makayla Epps (Lebanon, Ky.) will be signing autographs after the game.
Kentucky vs. Tennessee State Sunday, Dec. 28 – 2:00 p.m. ET Lexington, Ky. Game Notes: UK | TSU Gameday Info |
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Radio: UK Sports Network Live Video via SEC Network+ Online Audio Live Stats Text Updates |
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 and UK students, faculty and staff are admitted free with valid identification.
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.
Sunday will mark the fourth meeting between Tennessee State and Kentucky, with UK holding the 3-0 series lead. The last game played between the Wildcats and the Tigers was a 105-45 win for UK in 2005. Kentucky is 2-0 in games played at Memorial Coliseum against TSU. The series dates back to 1987 when the Wildcats registered a 91-65 win in Lexington.
The Cats own a 391-144 (73.0) mark in Memorial Coliseum, including a 101-16 (86.3) record under head coach Matthew Mitchell. UK is 6-0 at home this season, 5-0 in Memorial. UK has won 49 consecutive regular season non-conference games in Memorial Coliseum, dating back to Dec. 19, 2008 vs. Alabama A&M.
Kentucky (10-2) is coming off just its second loss of the season after falling 89-68 at No. 8/8 Duke last Sunday afternoon. Duke shot 55.8 percent from the floor and had six players score in double-figure scoring, while Kentucky shot a season-low 31.3 percent, including 8.3 percent from the 3-point line. The Cats were led by senior guard Jennifer O’Neill (Bronx, N.Y.) and freshman center Alexis Jennings (Madison, Ala.) who scored 17 points apiece. Jennings scored 16 of her career-high 17 points in the second half. Senior center Azia Bishop (Toledo, Ohio) also came off the bench for 15 points, her second straight game in double figures.
Overall this season, O’Neill leads Kentucky in scoring with 15.5 points per game, while Epps adds 13.2 ppg. Sophomore guard Linnae Harper and junior point guard Janee Thompson, both of Chicago, follow with 10.2 ppg apiece. Bishop is the team’s leader on the glass with 6.9 boards per game this season. Harper follows close behind with 6.4 rpg.
Tennessee State (3-7) enters Sunday’s game having won two of its last three games. The Tigers’ last game before the holiday break was a 75-71 loss at home against the Troy Trojans. Of Tennessee State’s three wins this season, two of them have come on the road, as the Tigers have defeated Lipscomb (73-55) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (72-61).
Senior forward Chelsea Hudson is leading the team in scoring with 14.2 points and a team second-best 6.9 rpg. Senior forward Briana Morrow is leading the team in rebounds with 7.5 rpg, while senior guard Rachel Allen (7.8 ppg) and junior guard Brianna Lawrence (7.2 ppg) round out the top three scorers. As a team, TSU is shooting 36.9 percent from the field while averaging 61.4 points per outing. The Lady Tigers have struggled shooting from the free-throw line, only connecting on 56.9 percent of their attempts to start the season.
The Lady Tigers are led by former Eastern Kentucky women’s basketball head coach, Larry Joe Inman. He is in his third season at Tennessee State.
After Sunday’s non-conference finale, UK will turn its attention to Southeastern Conference play. The Cats will open league play with a road test at Alabama on Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. ET on the SEC Network+.
For more information on parking around Memorial Coliseum and other game-day questions visit www.ukathletics.com/wbbgameday.