Coach Matthew Mitchell – Photo by UK Athletics
Kentucky vs. Alabama – Coleman Coliseum – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Jan. 12, 2017 – FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 71, Texas A&M 54
Team Records and Series Notes
– Matthew Mitchell is in his 10th season with Kentucky. Mitchell is 259-124 overall as a head coach and 229-95 during his tenure at Kentucky.
– With today’s victory, Kentucky improves to 27-17 in the overall series record against Alabama.
o Kentucky has won the last three contests between the programs including a 73-48 victory in Lexington last season.
o Alabama has not won against UK since Jan. 23, 2014.
– Kentucky will return to action Sunday, Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. ET, when the Wildcats return home to take on Georgia inside Memorial Coliseum. The game will be broadcast live on SEC Network and on the UK Sports Radio Network in Lexington on 630AM WLAP.
Team Notes
– Kentucky used the starting five of Makayla Epps, Evelyn Akhator, Maci Morris, Alyssa Rice and Taylor Murray.
o UK is 8-4 this season with that starting-five combination.
– With today’s win, UK improves to 11-6 overall this season.
o UK is now 2-2 in Southeastern Conference games.
– This was the Wildcats first win on the road this season.
– Kentucky held Alabama to just 16.7 percent shooting (3-of-18) and just nine points in the first quarter.
o This was the 12th quarter Kentucky has held an opponent to single-digit scoring this season.
– After Kentucky lost for the first time inside Memorial Coliseum this season on Sunday against Texas A&M, the Wildcats were able to do the same to Alabama who lost at home for the first time this season.
– Kentucky had an 11-point lead in the first half, but hit just 1 of its last 10 shots after an Alabama timeout halfway through the second giving UK only a three-point lead at the half (27-24).
– The Wildcats held the Crimson Tide to just 54 total points, a team which was averaging 76.4 points per game.
– Before tonight, Alabama was averaging 54 rebounds per game. Kentucky held them to just 33 and out-rebounded them 37-33.
– Kentucky outscored Alabama 44-30 in the second half.
Individual Notes
– Evelyn Akhator scored a career-high 29 points and tied a season-high 15 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season.
o Akhator’s 22 career double-doubles ties for the fourth most in UK history.
o The senior had 13 points in the third quarter alone, including a 6-0 run after Alabama had pulled within four to get the lead back to 10.
– Makayla Epps added 16 points, three assists, one rebound and one steal.
o With tonight’s performance, the senior climbed into the top 10 scorers in UK history for the first time.
o Her 1,495 career points currently ranks 9th in UK history.
o Before tonight, she ranked 12th on the all-time scorers list.
o Scored in double figures for the 15th time this season and the 76th of her career.
– Makenzie Cann went 3-of-6 from beyond the arc to score nine points.
o Her nine points marked her highest scoring performance since Dec. 21 (vs. Washington State) when she also scored nine.
– Maci Morris had eight points, one assist and one steal.
– Taylor Murray posted four points, four assists, four rebounds and four steals.
– Alyssa Rice scored three points to go along with two assists, one rebound and one steal.
– Jaida Roper added two points, two boards and one assist.
