It is nothing new for Lee women's basketball coach Marty Rowe to schedule an exhibition game against Division 1 opponents before the regular season tips off, but there is no doubt the trip to Lexington, Kentucky on Thursday evening (7 p.m.) to face the University of Kentucky will be special for Rowe, who is a native of Central City, Kentucky, and a graduate of Murray State University.

"This is definitely a first for us getting to play a SEC team and a really great team at that," said the veteran Lee coach. "We've played University of Memphis, North Carolina State, Western Kentucky and of course UT-Chattanooga in the past, but this is definitely an exciting opportunity for our team." 

Rhyne Howard is an All-American senior for the Kentucky team and was an All-State player for Bradley Central during her high school playing days. "I think Rhyne had a lot to do with us playing Kentucky," Rowe suggested. "It has been something I joked with her about while she was being recruited. She promised me no matter where she went that she'd get us a game. 

"It is a really great story about (Lee player and former Howard's teammate at Bradley) Halle (Hughes) and Rhyne getting a chance to play against each other. They are very close friends, and the Hughes family cares deeply for Rhyne. It is going to be fun watching that dynamic on the court. We'll let Halle guard her a little and see how that goes," allowed Coach Rowe. 

Said Halle, "I am so excited to be able to share the court with my "sister" Rhyne again and make memories with my Lee family. My two worlds are colliding, and it will be a blast." 

"We want to go up there and compete at the highest level possible for our team," Rowe continued. "We know Kentucky is one of the 15th best teams in the country, so we'll be challenged in many ways. But that's what we want this time of year, let's see if we can handle very tough situations and grow from them." 

Coach Rowe's wife Pam is a die-hard Kentucky Wildcat fan. "She is so excited about getting a chance to watch us play in Memorial Coliseum," the veteran coach noted. His associate head coach Jan Spangler is a native of Mayfield, Kentucky and admittedly still bleeds Blue. "We're expecting a lot of friends and family to be at the game, so it's going to be a special time for all of us," concluded Rowe.