Lady Toppers close out non-conference play at #16 Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU women’s basketball will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 28 against No. 16/15 Kentucky in Lexington to conclude non-conference play for the 2024-25 season.

ABOUT THE TOPS

• WKU is 9-2 on the season coming into Saturday’s game. It’s the first time the Lady Toppers have started a season with nine wins through the first 11 games since the 2015-16 season.
• Four different WKU players are averaging double-digit points this season: Alexis Mead – 13.6 PPG, Destiny Salary – 12.0 PPG, Acacia Hayes – 11.9 PPG, Josie Gilvin – 11.71PPG. WKU has had six different leading scorers through 11 games this season. Alexis Mead and Destiny Salary have led the team in scoring in three games, Acacia Hayes led the team twice and Zsofia Telegdy, Josie Gilvin and Mackenzie Chatfield have each led the team once.
• The Lady Toppers are averaging 12.5 steals per game this season, which is the 21st best rate in the country. Three different Lady Toppers are top 10 in steals per game in CUSA (Acacia Hayes: 2.90, 4th; Alexis Mead: 2.36, 6th; Josie Gilvin: 2.18, 7th).
• WKU went undefeated in November with a perfect 6-0 record in the month. It’s the first time a Lady Topper team has notched an undefeated record through a whole month (3 games played minimum) since going 7-0 in February of 2017.
• Five Lady Toppers come to Bowling Green internationally, which is the highest number of international athletes WKU women’s basketball has had on one team in program history.
• The Lady Toppers were picked to finish fourth in the Conference USA preseason coaches poll, behind Middle Tennessee, Liberty and FIU and above Louisiana Tech in fifth.

SERIES INFORMATION

• Saturday’s game will be the 23rd meeting between WKU and Kentucky all-time, but the first since 2008.
• The Lady Toppers are 15-17 against the Wildcats, but have won the last two games in the series.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS

• Kentucky is 10-1 on the season with its only loss coming to then No. 16 North Carolina on Dec. 5. The Wildcats have wins against USC Upstate, NKU, Wofford, Louisville, Purdue Fort Wayne, Arizona State, Illinois, Queens, Purdue and Belmont.
• The Wildcats have an efficient offense, averaging a 1.54 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team, which is the seventh best in the nation. The team is also averaging 19.5 assists per game which is the ninth most in the country.
• On the defensive end, Kentucky is the nation’s leading shot blockers, averaging 8.3 per game. The Cats are holding teams to a 32.9 shooting percentage from the field, which is seventh best nationally.
• All five starters for the Wildcats are averaging double digit points on the season. Georgia Amoore leads the group, putting up 16.3 points per game. Clara Strack is scoring 15.6 points per game. Dazia Lawrence is averaging 13.2, Teonni Key is averaging 11.5 and Amelia Hassett is averaging 11.1.
• Three different Wildats are averaging nine or more rebounds per game. Amelia Hassett leads the team with a 9.9 average while Clara Strack is pulling down 9.5 boards per game and Teonni Key is averging 9.3.