Women's Basketball Continues on the Road in Lexington
2/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama women's basketball team (8-17, 1-9 SEC) will continue its road trip with a Sunday matinee in Lexington, Ky. Alabama will face off against the Kentucky Wildcats (12-12, 6-4 SEC) on Feb. 17 at Noon in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports South. Garry Gupton and Christi Thomas will call the action for FSN.
Alabama and Kentucky square off for the 33nd time in program history. UK holds a slight 17-15 advantage in the series and won the last two meetings between the teams, including a 63-62 victory over UA in Tuscaloosa. Kentucky handed Alabama an 80-60 defeat in the 2006-07 regular-season finale in Lexington.
The Wildcats have won five of the last six and eight of the last 10 in the series. Kentucky holds a 9-5 advantage in Lexington and has won three in a row. The last Tide victory in Memorial Coliseum was a 61-58 win on Jan. 27, 2002. Stephany Smith is 0-2 in her career against UK.
The Wildcats (12-12, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) are coming off a tough 66-49 road loss at No. 25 Vanderbilt on Thursday. Senior Chelsea Chowning scored a career-high 14 points after netting a career-best four three-pointers and sophomore Amani Franklin recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds but the Wildcats couldn't overcome 22 turnovers and a 36-14 deficit in points in the paint.
Senior Samantha Mahoney is UK's leading scorer, averaging 13.3 points per game (10th in the SEC), including 11.9 in SEC play. Senior center Sarah Elliott follows with 10.8 points and is tied for the lead in rebounding with 6.4 rpg. Victoria Dunlap is close behind in both categories, averaging 7.8 points and with 6.4 rebounds per game.
Alabama sophomore forward Courtney Strauthers has taken advantage of her starting role as of late. Strauthers tied a career-high with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. The 6-4 forward also grabbed four rebounds. Strauthers has started the last three games and has tallied over five points in each of those contests. Strauthers is shooting a team-leading .563 from the floor and is averaging 5.2 points per game.
Alabama sophomore guard Dedrea Magee got back on track after a tough couple outings. Magee started off SEC action on fire and then cooled down for a five-game stretch. Magee returned to form with 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting. The Picayune, Miss. native knocked down two 3's and tallied a career-best five steals.
Alabama will return home for its final two home contests of the season. The Tide will begin the week against the Tennessee Lady Vols on Thursday, Feb. 21 with a 6:00 p.m. tip off. The game will be broadcasted on CSS. Alabama then closes out its regular season home slate against Ole Miss on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 2:00 p.m. from Coleman Coliseum.
