The Wildcats Play No. 10/16 NC State, No. 3/4 Colorado, Cincinnati at the Paradise Jam
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program will spend Thanksgiving weekend on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands competing in the Paradise Jam Island Tournament. Kentucky will play No. 10/16 NC State on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. ET, No. 3/4 Colorado on Friday at 1 p.m. ET and Cincinnati on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. ET.
All games will be broadcast on ESPN+, with Brad Wells and Kevin Lehman on the call. Big Blue Nation can also catch the play-by-play on the UK Sports Network or on 630 AM WLAP (locally), with the Voice of the Wildcats Darren Headrick on the mic.
The Wildcats have played in the Paradise Jam on three other occasions, including 2004, 2014 and 2018. The Cats have a five-game winning streak at the Paradise Jam after winning the tournament titles in both 2014 and 2018.
In their last appearance on the island in 2018, Kentucky defeated South Florida, UCLA and North Carolina to go undefeated and be crowned champion. Alumnae Rhyne Howard and Taylor Murray were named to the All-Tournament Team, while Howard was named Most Valuable Player.
This season, UK has a 2-2 overall record going into the Paradise Jam, as it prepares to play the first pair of ranked teams it has seen this season. UK has sported three different starting lineups in the last three games in the absence of star guard Maddie Scherr.
Through four games in 2023-24, Ajae Petty is leading UK in scoring (16.3) and rebounding (12.3). In fact, she is also leading the Southeastern Conference in rebounding per game. She has led UK in scoring in games twice this season, while sophomore guard Amiya Jenkins also has led UK in scoring in games twice this season. Jenkins, a Kentucky native and former Miss Kentucky Basketball, is coming off a career-high 18 points off a career-high seven made field goals in Kentucky’s loss at Florida Gulf Coast last Sunday.
The Wildcats are averaging 66.8 points per game, while holding their opponents to 61.8 points per game. The Cats have also outrebounded all four of its opponents this season.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.