Wildcats will host annual We Back Pat Game on Monday vs. Auburn at 7 p.m. ET
KENTUCKY GAME NOTES | SEC NETWORK | LIVE STATS | FREE AUDIO | TICKETS
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 12 University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will honor one of basketball’s biggest legends Monday at 7 p.m. ET when it plays host to Auburn for the annual We Back Pat Game at Memorial Coliseum.
Single-game tickets are $10 (all ages) in reserved seating areas, while general admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-18) and seniors (age 65+). Children aged 5 and under do not require a ticket in general admission areas. Young fans are encouraged to take advantage of the Kid Zone pregame with games, poster making stations, coloring stations and more. Senior center Nae Nae Cole is scheduled to sign autographs on the concourse following the game.
The game vs. Auburn will be broadcast on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen and Christy Thomaskutty on the call. The action can also be seen through WatchESPN on computers, smartphones or tablets. Darren Headrick will have the call on the UK Sports Network on 630AM WLAP in Lexington. Live stats and free live audio will be available online at UKathletics.com.
Spectator parking is located in all E-lots surrounding Memorial Coliseum and are off control 3 hours prior to tip. Additionally, the South Limestone Garage (PS#5) and the Rose Street Garage (PS#2) are available 2 hours prior to tip. The Bill Gatton Student Center is available as a pay-to-park option. Availability is based on the Gatton Student Center Event Schedule.
Parking is prohibited in any R (Residential) lots. Vehicles parking in R lots without a proper permit, along yellow curbs, grass spaces, or other non-specified and unapproved areas may be subject to ticket and/or tow. Disabled spectator parking is available with a valid, state issues disabled hangtag in the E lot North of the Craft Center. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis until full.
Shuttles are available beginning 2 hours prior to tip off and pick up and drop off near the South Limestone Garage (PS#5) and the High Street Lot. Shuttles will start back up after halftime to return guests to their parking areas, the shuttle will discontinue service 1-hour post-game.
Kentucky (15-3, 4-2 SEC) is coming off a tough defeat last Sunday at LSU, rallying in the fourth quarter before falling to the Tigers, 65-59. UK shot a season-low 23.3 percent from the field in the game, going just 6-of-26 from long range. LSU went 19-of-40 from the field, scoring 30 of its 65 points in the paint. Sophomore guard Rhyne Howard led Kentucky by securing her second consecutive double-double scoring a game-high 26 points with 12 rebounds. Senior guard Sabrina Haines scored 11 points in the game while senior guard Jaida Roper scored 10 points.
The setback vs. LSU snapped a four-game Southeastern Conference winning streak for the Wildcats, who started league play with four of their first six games on the road. Monday’s game against Auburn flips that schedule around for Kentucky, who will play six of its next nine inside Memorial Coliseum. After Monday’s game, UK will travel to Missouri next Thursday before hosting back-to-back home games vs. Florida on Feb. 2 and Alabama on Feb. 6.
Howard leads the nation in scoring this season averaging 23.9 points per game while also leading UK with 6.4 rebounds per game and 42 steals. The sophomore has hit 60 3s this season and is shooting 40 percent from long range, while she has 45 assists and 21 blocks. Haines is second on the team with 10.6 points per game, hitting 43 percent from long range. Junior guard Chasity Patterson is averaging 9.4 points per game while senior guard Jaida Roper is earning 7.2 points per game and is tied with senior guard Amanda Paschal with a team-high 58 assists.
Auburn (7-10, 1-5 SEC) enters Monday’s game after snapping a five-game losing streak with a 59-43 win over Ole Miss last Thursday. The Tigers had started 0-5 in league play with losses to Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Florida, Alabama and Georgia. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 66.9 points per game while allowing opponents 71.7 points per game. AU is hitting 39.4 percent from the field and 28.2 percent from 3, while teams are hitting 45.4 percent from the field against the Tigers. Junior forward Unique Thompson leads the team by averaging 16.3 points per game and 12.1 rebounds per game, while senior guard Daisa Alexander is averaging 13.7 points per game and has 31 assists. Sophomore guard Brooke Moore is the final Tiger averaging double figures with 10.9 points per game and has hit 23 3-pointers.
Auburn leads the all-time series in games played against Kentucky 26-23 with the series tied 10-10 in games played in Lexington. The Wildcats have won 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Tigers, including seven straight in Lexington. Auburn’s last win against Kentucky came inside Auburn Arena on Jan. 3, 2016. The Tigers took down the Wildcats 66-61 that day. Last season, UK earned a 78-68 victory over the Tigers in Auburn. The last meeting between the two teams in Lexington was on Feb. 1, 2018 with UK earning a 65-48 decision. Matthew Mitchell is 13-3 all-time against Auburn, including 7-0 vs. Auburn at home.