Wildcats, Eagles Meet in the Inaugural ACC / SEC Challenge on Thursday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball program will host Boston College for the inaugural ACC / SEC Women’s Basketball Challenge on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. ET at Clive M. Beck Center on the campus of Transylvania University. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network, with Mark Neely and Holly Warlick on the call.

It will mark UK’s first nationally televised game of the season, while fans can also catch the play-by-play on radio on UK Sports Network and 630 AM WLAP, with Darren Headrick on the call.

The Wildcats return to the Clive M. Beck Center for the first time since their season opener on Nov. 7. Then, Kentucky held off East Tennessee State, 74-66, after a nine-point deficit in the second quarter and a two-point deficit at halftime. The Wildcats shot well in the Clive M. Beck Center, with all five starters scoring in double digits, which the program hadn’t done since 2016, while they shot 43.1 percent from the field in the game and 55.5 percent from the field in the second half.

Kentucky is coming off four games in seven days, all which were away from home, including a contest at Florida Gulf Coast and then three straight games in the Paradise Jam Island Tournament against No. 10/16 NC State, No. 3/4 Colorado and Cincinnati.

Kentucky is in the midst of one of the toughest stretches of any Southeastern Conference team this nonconference season, as it will meet six Power 5 opponents through seven games. That is more Power 5 opponents than any other SEC team will face in the nonconference season, except for South Carolina who will meet seven.

Despite the challenge, several UK players have proven they can hang with the best.

Maddie Scherr is coming off a 25-point game against Cincinnati last Saturday, which is tied for the second-best point performance of her career. The senior guard knocked down five 3-pointers in the game, which tied her career high. She added three rebounds, two blocks and an assist in the last game in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ajae Petty continues to shine on the boards this season, as she is ranked second in the league in rebounds (65) and fourth in the league in rebounds per game (9.3). She also is the team’s second double-digit scorer, putting up 12.7 points per game, while she has recorded three double-doubles in 2023-24.

Seven Wildcats have scored at least 10 points at least once this season, including Amiya Jenkins, who set her career high in scoring with 18 points at FGCU on Nov. 19, Eniya Russell, who tied her career high in scoring with 14 points against Colorado on Nov. 24, Brooklynn Miles, Zennia Thomas and Saniah Tyler.

Kentucky enters the challenge with Boston College just four wins away from 900 program wins, owning an 896-593 (.602) overall record.

Big Blue Nation is encouraged to stay up to date with the nonconference schedule promotions and game themes. For the Kentucky-Boston College game, the promotions and game themes are as follows:

PROMOTIONAL(S) / GAME THEMES

• Pom giveaway
• Wildcat Games: Big Blue Nation will need to put on its “game face” for head-to-head fan competitions in honor of the SEC / ACC Challenge.
• A limited number of tickets remain for the Kentucky-ETSU game, so fans are encouraged to purchase in advance because tickets will not be guaranteed at the door.

FAN PARKING

There are numerous parking options for Big Blue Nation, relatively close to the Clive M. Beck Center.

• Fans is encouraged to use any of the lots marked with a “P” on the parking map.
  • Lots marked with a “P” are available for spectators after 4:30 p.m. ET.
• Fans may also choose to park in the BTSU lot and shuttle to and from the arena, which is also labeled on the parking map.
  • The shuttle service begins at 5:30 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on X, Instagram and Facebook.