Another test of toughness on the SEC road awaits Kentucky women Sunday

The University of Kentucky had its hands full with a top-25 Southeastern Conference opponent on Thursday night, so the Wildcats might have missed out on what was taking place in Starkville, Miss., at the same time.

Louisiana State roared back from a 20-point deficit and came close to knocking off No. 10 Mississippi State before falling 64-60.

That same LSU squad is the next challenge facing Kentucky. The Wildcats (15-2 overall, 4-1 SEC) take on the Tigers (13-4, 3-2) on Sunday afternoon in Baton Rouge, La.

No. 11 Kentucky is coming off a 76-54 victory over No. 12 Texas A&M on Thursday in Memorial Coliseum. If the Wildcats were not able to keep tabs on the Tigers, they should know that LSU is fully aware of Kentucky.

“We’ve got to go and get ready for another tough opponent in Kentucky, another team that’s going to play hard-nosed defense and has phenomenal players,” head coach Nikki Fargas said after Thursday night’s loss in Starkville. “We’ve got to take this game and be better because of it. That’s going to be key for us in order to move forward, to be better because of this game.”

Since SEC play began, LSU has beaten Alabama, Texas A&M and Ole Miss and lost to Missouri in addition to Mississippi State. The Tigers are 7-1 at home, with their only defeat coming against then-No. 12 Florida State on Nov. 9.

LSU is led in scoring by 5-foot-7 junior guard Khayla Pointer (14.8 points per game) and 6-foot senior forward Ayana Mitchell (14.4), who leads the SEC in field goal shooting percentage (71.0) and is fourth in rebounding (9.1). Faustine Aifuwa, a 6-5 junior center, presents another significant obstacle, averaging 9.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.

Kentucky has won four games in a row since an SEC-opening defeat at now-No. 1 ranked South Carolina.

UK sophomore guard Rhyne Howard leads the SEC in scoring at 23.8 points per game.

The Wildcats have won in their two most recent visits to Baton Rouge but are 5-14 there all-time.

Sunday

No. 11 Kentucky at LSU

When: 2 p.m.

TV: SEC Network

Radio: WLAP-AM 630

Records: Kentucky 15-2 (4-1 SEC), LSU 13-4 (3-2)

Series: LSU leads 33-17

Last meeting: UK won 57-52 on Feb. 24, 2019, in Lexington