LEXINGTON, Ky. - With a convincing 80-60 win over Alabama on Sunday, the Kentucky women's basketball team secured a No. 4 seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament and is preparing to square off with the winner of Florida (No. 5 seed) and Mississippi State (No. 12 seed) in the second round. The Cats will play on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. EST at the Alltel Center in North Little Rock, Ark. The game will be carried live on FSN South and the Big Blue Sports Network (radio) with Neil Price.
"We are excited about earning the fourth seed in the SEC Tournament." UK Coach Mickie DeMoss said. "It was one of our goals to finish the regular season in the top four. Both Florida and Mississippi State are tough opponents and it will be a tough matchup against either team."
Florida (20-7, 8-6 SEC) earned the fifth seed by upsetting fifth-ranked Tennessee in overtime, 95-93, in Knoxville, Tenn. The Gators edged Vanderbilt, also with an 8-6 league record, in the SEC standings by winning the head-to-head tie. Florida defeated the Commodores during the regular season, 73-59. Mississippi State is the 12th seed after finishing with a 6-21 overall record, 1-13 in the SEC.
During the regular season, UK split meetings with Florida, winning 80-65 in Gainesville and dropping a 68-61 decision in Lexington. The Cats defeated Mississippi State, 51-46, in the only matchup with the Lady Bulldogs.
UK (20-7, 9-5 SEC) completed the regular season with a school-record nine SEC victories. The Wildcats' 20 wins marks the first 20-win season since 1998-99 and their fourth place finish is the highest since the 1982-83 squad tied for second.
UK is 16-25 all-time in the SEC Tournament and holds a 5-11 (31.2) mark in second round games.