OU to Face Kentucky in Big 12/SEC Challenge

NORMAN – Oklahoma women's basketball will travel to Kentucky for the 2016 Big 12/SEC Challenge, both league offices announced on Monday. The game is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1 at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.

The meeting will mark the third matchup between the Sooners and Wildcats in the last three seasons. The familiar foes last met in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament inside Memorial Coliesum with Kentucky earning a 79-58 victory over the Sooners.

The Wildcats lead the all-time series, 2-1. OU defeated Kentucky, 88-68, in an Elite Eight matchup in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

This season marks the first in which 10 Big 12/SEC Challenge games will be played. The format consists of five home games on campus sites for each conference. Two teams from each league participated in the past two years with the conferences splitting the games each season for an overall 2-2 series record.

In 2016, games will be scheduled over the dates of Thursday-Sunday, December 1-4. Times and television designation will be released when available. Half of the contests feature at least one team that was ranked in the final 2015-16 USA Today coaches' poll while three will highlight top 25 matchups.

“We look forward to all 10 of our women's basketball teams competing in the 2016 SEC/Big 12 Challenge,” said Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “These marquee non-conference matchups should provide four-consecutive days of quality competition and excitement for fans across the country.”

“The Southeastern Conference looks forward to the expansion of an enhanced competitive event with our Big 12 friends,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. “The SEC/Big 12 Challenge in women's basketball will showcase the strength and depth of our women's basketball teams and provides fans from both conferences with exciting games.”

The inaugural challenge was held in 2014 in Little Rock, Ark., and featured a top 5 showdown with No. 3 Texas squaring off against No. 4 Texas A&M. Oklahoma and Arkansas, who were both receiving votes, played in the second game. The conferences split the Challenge with the two games decided by a total of nine points.

The 2015 version was contested in Oklahoma City with the opponents reversed as No. 5 Texas played Arkansas while No. 17 Oklahoma competed against No. 18 Texas A&M. Each league again claimed a win.

For more information on Oklahoma women's basketball, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_WBBall) or like Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball on Facebook.