Kentucky (13-6) vs. (7) Tennessee (13-3)

Game Info: 3:00 pm EST Sun Jan 23, 2005

Mickie DeMoss helped make Tennessee a women's basketball powerhouse. Now, she'd like nothing more than to beat the Lady Vols.
DeMoss makes her first trip to Thompson-Boling Arena as an opposing coach when Kentucky faces seventh-ranked Tennessee in a Southeastern Conference matchup.

DeMoss served as Tennessee coach Pat Summitt's assistant for 18 years. She was responsible for recruiting some of the Vols' best-known players, including Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings.

DeMoss, who left to become Kentucky's head coach in March 2003, also helped lure freshmen Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, Alexis Hornbuckle and Candace Parker to Tennessee. The three are part of a group of six freshmen considered the best incoming class ever assembled.

``Just thinking about the impact she's had on the success of this program -- that's huge,'' said Summitt, who needs just 15 more victories to become the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history.

``She has been recognized as the best assistant recruiter in the women's game, and probably if you polled the coaches they would say over the years there hasn't been anyone better.''

DeMoss, who served as a graduate assistant at Memphis State from 1977-79, a head coach at Florida from 1979-83, and an assistant at Auburn from 1983-85, faced the Vols as an opposing coach 10 times before coming to Tennessee, posting a 1-9 record. She lost 81-72 to Tennessee last season in Lexington as coach of the Wildcats.

Kentucky has not defeated Tennessee since 1986 -- one year before Thompson-Boling opened.

``The first thing you've got to do when you walk in the door (is) you've got to believe you can compete. It starts mentally,'' said DeMoss, who remains close friends with Summitt.

The Lady Vols (13-3, 3-0) beat Auburn 81-71 on Thursday for their 37th straight regular season conference win. Tennessee has won five straight overall since a 65-51 loss to No. 6 Rutgers on Dec. 29.

Shyra Ely scored 20 points for Tennessee, which hit 10 of 11 free throws down the stretch after Auburn took a brief lead. Tye'sha Fluker added 18 points and 11 rebounds, including eight points in the final four minutes.

The Wildcats (13-6, 2-2) lost 72-59 to Mississippi State on Thursday for their second defeat in seven games. Sara Potts and Sarah Elliot each scored 13 points for Kentucky, which shot just 34.5 percent.

Tennessee leads the all-time series 39-5.