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[B][I][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]UK Hoops looks for its 30th straight win over a nonconference opponent at home[/FONT][/I][/B]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]LEXINGTON, Ky. – The 10th-ranked Kentucky women’s basketball team, fresh off back-to-back wins over top 10 opponents for the first time in school history, returns to Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 11 to face Arkansas Pine-Bluff in their ninth consecutive home game. Game time is 1 p.m. ET.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]After a thrilling 72-65 win upset of No. 6/5 Duke on Thursday in Rupp Arena, Kentucky is riding a nine-game winning streak which ties for the nation’s third-longest winning streak. The Cats have won eight in a row at home, a streak that ties for the ninth-longest, and they have also won 29 consecutive games at home vs. nonconference opponents. This is UK’s best start to a season since the 2009-10 season when the Cats began 11-0.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]“We are excited about our victory last night over Duke,” UK Hoops Coach Matthew Mitchell said. “After going back and watching that, the players really played hard and had to compete at a high level to get that done. So it was a great night. The challenge now is to try to build on that, and the way you do that is to come back and prepare very well for our next opponent, Arkansas-Pine Bluff. It will be important for us to find out what we can correct from the Duke game and try and get that done, and see if we can take another step forward on Sunday.”[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Kentucky (9-0), one of just 11 teams in the country still undefeated, looks to keep its nine-game winning streak alive. UK has also won 29 consecutive games at home to nonconference opponents. This is UK’s best start to a season since the 2009-10 season when the Cats began 11-0. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]The Wildcats’ defensive pressure has once again been their bread and butter as they lead the nation in turnover margin (+14.6). The Cats have forced a league-high 300 turnovers for an average of 33.3 forced turnovers per game.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Leading the charge is junior and Naismith Trophy candidate A’dia Mathies (Louisville, Ky.). Mathies, who already ranks in the top 10 on UK’s all-time steals list, averages a Southeastern Conference-high 4.1 steals per game to go along with her team-best 16.8 points per game. She has netted double-figure points in all nine games this season, including a season-high 23 points on Thursday vs. Duke. Freshman Bria Goss (Indianapolis) has also been a key contributor as she averages 11.6 points and 5.3 rebounds a game. She is coming off a career night vs. the Blue Devils with 19 points. Sophomore Samantha Drake (Bardstown, Ky.) is the team’s leading rebounder with 7.3 rpg and has netted double figures in three of the last four games.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-6) is located in Pine Bluff, Ark., and is a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Lady Lions enter Sunday’s game looking for their first win of the season. They are coming off an 84-36 loss at Marquette. Chigozianyi Okwumabua led UAPB with nine points, six rebounds and three steals.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Overall, the Lady Lions are led by junior guard Lakendra Marsh, who is averaging 10.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Carlisha Walker leads UAPB on the glass, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]If not able to attend the game, it will be televised live on the UK IMG Sports Network and Fox Sports South. A live video stream will be available via ESPN3.com. It also can be heard on the UK IMG Sports Radio Network with Neil Price calling the action for the sixth consecutive season. Fans can also follow the UK Hoops team on Twitter at @UKHoopCats and use #UKHoops to comment on the game. [/FONT]
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[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 1-800-928-CATS begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-928-CATS end_of_the_skype_highlighting.[/FONT]
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[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=black][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]UK students and faculty/staff also will receive free admission with valid UK identification.[/FONT][/COLOR][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std][/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Women’s basketball parking for Sunday’s game is available in the following surface lots and parking structures:[/FONT]
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[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Student Center Lot – off Euclid Ave[/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]MLK South Lot – between Lexington Ave and MLK Blvd. and south (towards Euclid) of the center drive lane. DO NOT PARK IN NORTH MLK LOT (closest to Wildcat Lodge) AS THIS IS A RESIDENTIAL LOT AND SUBJECT TO TICKET/TOW[/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Handicapped Parking (first come-first served until full) is located in the Northeast corner of the MLK South Lot, must have valid state-issued hang tag[/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Joe Craft Center North E-Lot – large lot located north of the Joe Craft Center, and accessible via Lexington Avenue or Rose St.[/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Good Samaritan surface Lot – accessible off MLK Blvd[/FONT]
[*][FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]Parking Structure #5 – entrances off Limestone and S. Upper[/FONT]
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[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]- Doors to the Coliseum will open one (1) hour prior to tip-off. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]- UK Athletics encourages women’s basketball fans to arrive early to ease traffic and parking congestion around the Coliseum. [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]- Surface event lots (i.e. Student Center, Hardymon, South MLK, Joe Craft Center North and Good Samaritan Surface Lot) typically reach capacity approximately 45 minutes prior to tip-off, at which point, vehicles should proceed to Parking Structure #5 (PS#5). [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial Narrow MT Std]- The PS #5 shuttle will begin one hour prior to tip and end one hour post-game. The PS #5 shuttle picks up on Administration Drive, accessible via the sky bridge located on the 3rd Floor of PS#5.[/FONT]
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