Rating:

5.0 (2 votes)

LOUISVILLE (AP) - The Kentucky women's basketball team is eager to prove the Wildcat men aren't the only squad in the state with sky-high NCAA tournament hopes.

The surprising Wildcats (25-7) are the fourth seed in the Midwest Region and open tournament play on Saturday against 13th-seeded Liberty (27-5) at Freedom Hall.

Kentucky was picked to finish 11th in the Southeastern Conference but ended up second thanks to the play of junior forward Victoria Dunlap, the SEC Player of the Year.

The Wildcats are making their first NCAA appearance since 2006 and just their seventh appearance in school history.

Fifth-seeded Michigan State (22-9) plays 12th-seeded Bowling Green (27-6) in the other first-round game at Freedom Hall on Saturday, with the winners meeting Monday night.

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