Preview of Kentucky at LSU Women’s Basketball BATON ROUGE, La. (Interstat) — A marquee Southeastern Conference showdown between the nation’s top teams will highlight the New Year’s Day college basketball slate when the Kentucky Wildcats visit the top-ranked LSU Tigers on Thursday. The matchup at the Maravich Assembly Center features the only two remaining one-loss or unbeaten teams in the SEC. LSU (13-0, 0-0 SEC) has steamrolled its non-conference schedule, winning by an average margin of 52.2 points. Kentucky (13-1, 0-0) has been nearly as dominant, its lone loss a 74-66 defeat at Maryland on Nov. 26. The game pits two of the country’s premier post players against each other. Kentucky’s Clara Strack, a 6-foot-5 center, enters on a tear, averaging 19.0 points and 7.2 rebounds over her last five games. She is coming off a 24-point, 11-rebound, seven-block performance in an 80-42 win over Hofstra on Dec. 28. She will be matched by LSU’s Kate Koval, a formidable forward who has been efficient in limited minutes. Koval posted a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double in just 19 minutes in the Tigers’ 109-41 rout of Alabama State on Sunday. In LSU’s most significant test, a 93-77 win at Duke on Dec. 4, Koval contributed 13 points. While both teams have overwhelmed lesser opponents, their defenses will face a stark upgrade in competition. Kentucky allows just 52.6 points per game, while LSU’s high-octane offense leads the nation at 103.2 points per contest. The Wildcats’ backcourt, led by Asia Boone (11 points, eight assists vs. Hofstra), will need to contend with LSU’s dynamic guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who dished 11 assists in the Tigers’ last outing. Thursday’s winner will seize early control of the SEC race. Kentucky visits Alabama next on Jan. 8, while LSU travels to Vanderbilt on Jan. 4. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.