After reaching the Elite Eight for the second time in three years and winning their first Southeastern Conference regular season championship in 30 years last season, the Kentucky women's basketball team has been picked to start the 2012-13 season at No. 6 by The Associated Press, the Wildcats' highest preseason ranking in school history.

The previous high was a No. 8 ranking prior to the 1982-83 season.

Kentucky, which has ranked in three consecutive preseason AP polls, is one of five SEC teams to rank in the top 25 with Georgia (No. 10), Texas A&M (No. 15), Vanderbilt (No. 16) and Tennessee (No. 20). Other Kentucky opponents in the AP poll are Baylor (No. 1), Louisville (No. 9) and DePaul (No. 25).

The Lady Bears were ranked No. 1 followed by UConn, Duke and Stanford, respectively.

The Wildcats' lone exhibition game of the season is free and scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5 vs. Bellarmine at 6 p.m. ET in Memorial Coliseum. The season opener is Saturday, Nov. 10 vs. Delaware State at 1 p.m. ET.