UK women seek 5-0 start in California

Special to the Herald-Leader

Wednesday
Kentucky at UC-Santa Barbara
When: 3 p.m.
Radio: WLAP-AM 630
KENTUCKY (4-0)
Probable starters: Amber Smith, 5-5, Jr., G (12.3 ppg, 3.3 apg, 2.8 rpg); Carly Morrow, 5-11, Jr. G (8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg); A'dia Mathies, 5-9, Fr., G (13.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg); Amani Franklin, 5-11, Sr., G/F (6.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg); Victoria Dunlap, 6-1, Jr., F (20.3 ppg, 12.5 rpg; 2.8 apg, 2 bpg)
Top reserves: Rebecca Gray, 5-10, So., G (7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg); Keyla Snowden, 5-7, So., G (4.5 ppg); Brittany Henderson, 6-2, Fr., F (4.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg); Lydia Watkins, 6-0, Sr., F (6.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
UC-Santa barbara (0-3)
Probable starters: Meagan Williams, 5-10, Sr., G (6.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Ariana Gnekow, 5-9, Sr., G (3.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg); Emilie Johnson, 5-6, So., G (10.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Jordan Franey, 6-0, Sr., F (11.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg): Sweets Underwood, 6-0, Fr., F (4.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Top reserves: Mekia Valentine, 6-4, Jr., C (18.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Chris Spencer, 6-1, Sr., G/F (9.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg); Megan Kritscher, 6-3, Fr., F/C (2.0 ppg); Margaret Johnson, 5-11, Jr., F (2.0 rpg)

Kentucky's women's basketball team will try to keep its unbeaten streak to start the season alive when it plays at UC-Santa Barbara on Wednesday. The Wildcats (4-0) are off to their best start since the 2005-06 squad opened 8-0.

"The Gauchos have a very rich tradition, and they pose a huge challenge for us," Coach Matthew Mitchell said. "They play extremely well in the Thunderdome, and it will be a tough game for us."

UC-Santa Barbara (0-3), the pre-season favorite to win the Big West title is 200-39 in the Thunderdome since 1991.

The team returned one starter from a squad that finished 22-10 overall and 15-1 in league play last season. The Gauchos won the 2009 Big West regular-season title and were tournament champions.

Junior center and Wake Forest transfer Mekia Valentine leads the Gauchos in scoring (18.0) and rebounding (8.0), but she sat out last Sunday with a hand injury. She's expected to play Wednesday but not start.

This is the second meeting between the teams. Last year, UK won 69-58 in Lexington.