LEX18.com - Lexington, KY

Posted: Mar 19, 2010 7:13 PM
Updated: Mar 19, 2010 7:14 PM

Wildcats and Lady Flames Tip Off at Approximately 2:41 p.m. Saturday on ESPN2

In search of its third consecutive first-round NCAA Tournament win, the fourth-seeded Kentucky women's basketball team is prepped and ready to take on 13-seeded Liberty Saturday, March 20 in Louisville's Freedom Hall. Tip time is approximately 2:41 p.m. EST or 30 minutes following the Michigan State vs. Bowling Green matchup slated for 12:11 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and on the Big Blue Sports Radio Network with Neil Price.

The Wildcats earned their seventh overall bid to the NCAA Tournament with a No. 4 seed in the Kansas City Regional. This marks the Cats' first appearance in the Big Dance since 2006.

"I think that just getting into the tournament is significant progress for us," Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year Matthew Mitchell said. "It is a year that started with a lot of people having doubt in these players and what we could do. I'm sure that every team in Division I starts the season with a plan as to how they're going to make the tournament. There's a lot of competition out there and if you're one of the 64 that makes it, it's clearly significant. As it relates to the progress of our program, it's a great measuring stick to see some tangible results to all of the hard work that's been invested by these players, so I'm thrilled for them. Then, as you add the bonus of being able to share that with people who mean a lot to you, we have a very dedicated group of parents and supporters that these players are close to. For them to be able to share that because we're so close is a pretty neat thing. We're trying to take that part in stride and know that it's an excellent opportunity, but it doesn't guarantee us any success on the basketball court. We'll have to go out and make the plays and play close to their identity, I think we'll have a chance for success. To have that in front of people that you care about is a tremendous thing."

The Wildcats (25-7) compiled an outstanding resume this season en route to equaling the most wins in school history (25), including a school-record 11 wins in the SEC. Despite being picked to finish 11th in the preseason polls by media and coaches, UK finished second in the league standings and also had an impressive showing in the SEC Tournament. The Cats defeated Auburn and Mississippi State on their way to meeting No. 3 Tennessee to its first SEC Tournament final since 1982.

Anchoring the turnaround has been SEC?Player of the Year and junior forward Victoria Dunlap (Nashville, Tenn.). The 6-1 junior forward ranks in the top 10 of seven different SEC statistical categories, including leading the league in steals (3.2) and ranking third in scoring (17.7), fourth in rebounding (8.3) and fifth in blocks (1.9). She has dominated the low post, setting a single-season school record of 64 blocks. That total topped the previous mark of 56 set by UK's all-time leading shot blocker Sarah Elliott in 2007-08.

SEC Freshman of the Year and Louisville native A'dia Mathies also has been a key catalyst in the Cats' success as she ranks second behind Dunlap in scoring (13.2 ppg), steals (78) and blocks (17). UK's all-time freshman steals leader has scored in double figures in 24 of 32 games, including four straight.

UK is 4-6 all-time in the Big Dance and the No. 4 seed is the highest for UK Hoops since its 1983 trip to the NCAA Tournament as No. 3 seed.

The best finish for UK came in the very first NCAA Tournament in 1982 when the Wildcats fell one win shy of the Final Four, losing to eventual national champion Louisiana Tech.

Liberty (27-5) claimed the 2010 Big South Conference Tournament with a 68-66 victory against No. 1-seed Gardner-Webb in the tournament finals. The Lady Flames have won 10 consecutive games leading into the NCAA Tournament and 20 of their last 21 contests. Liberty has won the Big South Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament 10 times in the last 11 years, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2004-05.

Liberty leads the nation in rebounding margin at +14.0. The Flames are pulling down 40.0 rebounds per game while limiting the opponent to 26.0 rpg.

Redshirt freshman guard Devon Brown, the Most Valuable Player of the Big South Conference Tournament, is the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.9 points per game, and is tied for the team lead with 8.4 rebounds per game. Brown also is second on the team in steals with 63. Also averaging 8.4 caroms a game is 6-foot-3 sophomore forward Avery Warley. Both Brown and Warley were first-team Big South honorees.

"Avery looks and plays like a very high level post player, and we've discussed that at length with our team," Mitchell said. "Not only her, but you cannot be number one in the country in rebound margin if you're not committed at all five positions to get on the boards. We really emphasize defense and rebounding, so we have a lot of respect for a team that makes the commitment. Rebounding has so much to do with heart, effort and toughness. That gets your attention early on. She's sort of at the lead of the pack there. She's so physical and active and can rebound out of her area. She is another tough matchup for us. I feel like I say this every game because we don't have anybody that looks like her that's playing right now. It's another challenge. We'll have to guard her with five people and have five people committed to boxing out and rebounding. I will be a tough matchup, but she is one in particular that really concerns us."

UK is 1-1 all-time vs. Liberty and has never met the Lady Flames in post-season play. UK's last matchup with Liberty was in 1999. The Cats are 7-1 all-time vs. teams from the Big South Conference and are 9-12 all-time in Freedom Hall.