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Skidmore, Cox Lead Hilltoppers to Season-Opening Win in Lexington
Shorthanded WKU Topples Kentucky
Skidmore's 29 Points, Cox's Double-Double Push Hilltoppers Past Wildcats
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Despite playing without three starters, the Western Kentucky University women's basketball team used a big second half to rally past Kentucky 85-75 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday night at Memorial Coliseum.
Trailing 39-38 at the break, WKU (1-0) shot 53.6 percent (15-of-28) from the field in the second half and knocked down 7-of-15 from 3-point range to pull away from the Wildcats (0-1).
Redshirt sophomore guard Mya Meredith gave WKU the lead for good at 52-51 with a trey at the 5:12 mark of the third quarter, and the Hilltoppers never looked back.
- Redshirt senior guard Dee Givens followed with a triple just over a minute later to push the lead to five, and WKU forced three turnovers in a row, leading to a 9-0 run that stretched the advantage to 61-51.
- Kentucky got back to within five at 63-58 with 6:34 left in the game, but redshirt junior forward Alexis Mead drained a 3-pointer to ignite a 9-2 run that put the game out of reach.
Junior guard Jaylin Foster came off the bench for WKU to hit three triples in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
Redshirt senior guard Raneem Elgedawy, who was making her Hilltopper debut, scored 11 of her 16 points in the second half, including a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
- Elgedawy added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
- Redshirt sophomore forward Meral Abdelgawad scored 10 points.
Junior guard Erin Skidamare led all scorers with 29 points for the Wildcats, including a 7-of-11 showing from 3-point range.
Sophomore forward Ajae Petty added 19 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while senior guard Robyn Benton came off the bench to score 15 points.
The Hilltoppers return to action on Friday when they host Evansville at E.A. Diddle Arena. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.