LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky women’s basketball team will take one final step before officially starting its 45th season of varsity basketball on Friday when it plays host to Lincoln Memorial University for an exhibition contest at 7 p.m. ET inside Memorial Coliseum.
The game will not be televised but will be broadcast on the UK Sports Radio Network with Darren Headrick, now in his second year with the program, calling the action. Fans in Lexington can hear Headrick’s call on 98.5 FM, while fans in Louisville can hear the call on 1080 AM. Live stats and free audio will be available online at ukathletics.com.
Although admission to Friday’s game is free, the UK Ticket Office will be open before the game and until halftime for fans wishing to purchase season tickets or single-game tickets to any of UK’s home games this season. Purchasing season tickets offers the best option and price savings for fans. New season ticket purchases are available in upper-level reserved chairbacks (sections AA-JJ), lower-level reserved bleachers (sections R-Z) or general admission bleachers (sections RR-ZZ) for $69 per ticket. Lower-level reserved chairbacks (A-J) sections are sold out again this season.
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 ages five and under do not require a ticket in general admission areas.
A massive new LED video board spanning approximately 1,800 square feet with dimensions of 30 feet by 60 feet has been installed in Memorial Coliseum including a new LED ribbon board nearly 100 feet in width. Both the video and ribbon boards feature a 5.2 mm display with a 4800-hertz refresh rate.
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. With the Gatton Student Center lot and expansion of North Craft lot there are 238 additional parking spots for spectators this season around Memorial Coliseum. The Bill Gatton Student Center is available as a pay-to-park option. Availability is based on the Gatton Student Center Event Schedule.
The Lexington Parking Authority Transit Center Parking Garage, located between High Street and Vine Street is available for parking after 5 p.m. during the week and all day on the weekends. Additionally, a free shuttle service will pick up in the High Street lot beginning 2 hours prior to tip. UK Athletics Event Staff will be at the Transit Center Garage Entrance to assist with directing patrons to the correct shuttle pick-up location.
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 near the Transit Center Parking Garage and 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.
Doors to Memorial Coliseum open 1.5 hours before tip and UK Athletics encourages women’s basketball fans to arrive early to ease traffic and parking congestion around the Coliseum. For more information on parking around Memorial Coliseum and other game-day questions visit ukathletics.com.
Matthew Mitchell is entering his 12th year at Kentucky as the winningest head coach in program history. His Wildcats return a majority of their team from last season, including its top scorers in senior guards Maci Morris and Taylor Murray. In all, UK returns 10 of the 13 players that saw time last season, not including redshirt junior Ogechi Anyagaligbo, who missed last season due to injury.
In all, UK returns 81 percent of its scoring, 80 percent of its assists, 74 percent of its rebounding, 75 percent of its 3-point shooting and 80 percent of its made field goals. Morris and Murray lead the returners after Morris averaged 17.3 points last season while Murray averaged 11.5 points.
Morris and Murray have been recognized by league coaches as two of the top performers in the Southeastern Conference this preseason as both were named to the 2018-19 Preseason All-SEC Team. Morris was tabbed to the first team after being named to the second team last season. Murray earned second-team honors for the second straight year after being on the SEC All-Defensive team last season. The Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the league.
Lincoln Memorial enters the 2018-19 season ranked 10th in the Southeast Region D2SIDA Preseason Media Regional Poll and were picked to finish fifth in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll.
LMU finished the 2017-18 season at 18-11 and 12-8 in SAC play. The Railsplitters lost three key seniors from last year in Shea Coker, Ross Mathis and Karsen Sims but do return 12 contributors and two red-shirt players.
Top returners include twin sisters Rachel and Emily Griffith, who finished second and third on the team in scoring last season at 10.6 points and 10.1 points per game, respectively. Also returning is SAC Freshman of the Year Qua Hines, who averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.
For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.comor follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, or Kentucky Women’s Basketball on Facebook.
