[COLOR=#000000][B][I][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]UK Hoops is 5-0 and has won 25 straight home games vs. non-conference opponents[/FONT][/I][/B][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 14/11 Kentucky women’s basketball team plays host to the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Friday, Nov. 25, looking to keep its winning streak alive. Game time in Memorial Coliseum is 7 p.m. ET.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]The Wildcats have started at 5-0 for the third straight season and are riding a 25-game winning streak vs. non-conference opponents at home.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]“Sam Houston State is a team that is averaging 79.0 points a game and forcing its opponent into 22.0 turnovers per game,” UK Hoops Coach Matthew Mitchell said. “Those two stats are making us focus on our defense and ball security during our preparation. When I review video on their team, I see a team that has some firepower and athleticism. We need to come focused and prepared to play 40 minutes of Kentucky basketball against Sam Houston State on Friday night.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Kentucky is well known for its defensive pressure as the Wildcats lead the Southeastern Conference in turnover margin (+20.2) and steals (18.2). UK forces an impressive 37.6 turnovers per game and holds its opponent to 50.2 points per game.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Junior guard A’dia Mathies (Louisville, Ky.) has been one of the key catalysts in the Cats’ defensive pressure as she leads the team in steals with 4.6 per game. The All-SEC first-team selection swiped a career-high nine steals vs. Nebraska Omaha, tying for the second most steals in school history.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]UK’s defense, which has forced at least 30 turnovers in all five games, averages 40.2 points off turnovers compared to the opponents’ 10.8 ppg. The Cats also have scored at least 80 points in all five games and lead the SEC in scoring offense (89.2).[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Mathies leads three players in double-figure scoring with an average of 17.0 points per game. Sophomore Kastine Evans (Salem, Conn) follows with 12.6 ppg, while freshman guard Bria Goss (Indianapolis) adds 10.6 ppg. Sophomore center Samantha Drake (Bardstown, Ky.) is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.2 rpg.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Sam Houston State, of the Southland Conference, is 2-1 after falling at Vanderbilt, 79-56, on Tuesday. Three players scored in double figures led by Britini Martin with 19. Sequeena Thomas added a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Angela Beadle added 13 points. The Bearkats defeated UT-Tyler and Mary Hardin-Baylor to open the season.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Fans interested in tickets can visit the Joe Craft Center ticket office, go to UKathletics.com, or call the UK ticket office at [LEFT][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B] [LEFT][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B][LEFT][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B] [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B][LEFT][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B] [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT] [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B][LEFT][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B]1-800-928-CATS[/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT][/B][/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#49535A !important][FONT=Tahoma][B] [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT][/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT] [/B][/FONT][/COLOR][/LEFT].[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Single-game reserved tickets are available at a cost of $7 for all ages. General admission tickets for adults are also $7 while single-game general admission tickets for seniors and children (18 and under, 65 and over) are only $4. Age 5 and under are admitted free.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Season tickets for the entire 18-game home schedule are also still available for $45, except lower-level chair back seating, which are $60 and sold out.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]If not able to attend the game, it can be heard live on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price calling the action. Fans can follow the UK Hoops team on Twitter at @UKHoopCats and use #UKHoops to comment on the game. A live video stream is available on the subscription video portion of [URL=”http://www.ukathletics.com/”]www.UKathletics.com[/URL].[/FONT][/COLOR]
