Coach Matthew Mitchell – Photo by UK Athletics
KENTUCKY WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME NOTES
Kentucky vs. Morehead State – Memorial Coliseum – Lexington, Ky. – 11-23-16 – FINAL SCORE: Kentucky 74, Morehead State 47
Team Records and Series Notes
– Matthew Mitchell is in his 10th season with Kentucky. Mitchell is 253-119 overall as a head coach and 223-90 during his tenure at Kentucky.
– Kentucky is 129-19 all-time in Memorial Coliseum under Mitchell.
– Currently, UK is No. 20 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 24 in the USA Today/Coaches Top 25. Kentucky has been ranked in both the USA Today/Coaches’ Top 25 and The Associated Press Top 25 since week 13 of the 2009-10 season, which is a program-record streak of 135 weeks.
– Kentucky now holds a 29-4 edge over the Eagles with today’s victory, including a 19-1 mark in games played in Lexington. The Wildcats have also won 12-straight games over Morehead State.
– Kentucky will return to action Nov. 27 at 2 p.m. ET when the Wildcats host Samford 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 4-1 this season with that starting-five combination.
– Tonight’s win brings UK’s record to 4-1 overall.
– Kentucky has won 60 consecutive regular-season non-conference games inside Memorial Coliseum, dating back to Dec. 19, 2008 vs. Alabama A&M.
– With tonight’s victory, Kentucky rises to 94-17 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents.
– After scoring the first points, Kentucky never trailed in the contest.
– Kentucky went on an 11-0 run to start the game, forcing a Morehead State timeout with 7:57 to go in the first quarter. The Wildcat’s also went on a 12-0 run early in the second half.
o Kentucky has recorded nine 10-0 or more runs this season.
– The Wildcats held Morehead State to only two points in the second quarter, the lowest of any UK opponent in a quarter so far this season.
o UK held the Eagles scoreless in the final 7:30 of the first half.
o Kentucky extended that effort, not allowing a Morehead State field goal until the 2:26 mark in the third quarter to hold them without a field goal for 15:04.
o Morehead State’s two points scored in the second quarter tied Kentucky’s program record for fewest points allowed in a quarter.
– Kentucky dominated the defensive end in the first half, grabbing 20 defensive rebounds and not allowing Morehead State to earn a single offensive rebound.
– UK’s 35 first-half points marked the fewest points scored in a first half this season for the Wildcats.
– Kentucky ended the game with its largest lead of the night, a 27-point advantage.
– UK completely dominating the paint, outscoring the Eagles 40-6 in the paint.
– This was the third time this season Kentucky has held an opponent to 20 points or less in a first half, holding Albany to 19, New Hampshire to 20 and tonight holding Morehead State to 19.
Individual Notes
– Taylor Murray had a career night, posting career highs in points with 18 and rebounds with eight.
o Murray led all scorers in the game, shooting eight-of-13 from the floor as well as two-of-five from beyond the arc.
o Murray recorded her 12th career double-digit scoring performance and her second of the season in tonight’s win.
o In the first half alone, Murray had matched her previous career-high of 14 points.
– Evelyn Akhator added 11 points and nine rebounds in tonight’s win.
o Akhator was just one rebound away from recording her sixth consecutive double-double.
o Akhator’s 11 points tonight marks her lowest point total of the season.
– Makayla Epps posted 18 points and nine assists to end the game.
o Epps has now recorded double-digit points in four-of-five games this season.
o Epps’ nine assists are a season high for the senior.
o With tonight’s performance, her career-points total climbs to 1,290.
o Epps needs 143 points (1,433 total) to enter Kentucky’s top-10 scorers in school history.
– Maci Morris recorded 14 points and six rebounds for the Blue and White.
o Morris’ has scored 14 points in back-to-back contests now, after scoring 14 against Colorado on Saturday as well.
o Her 14 points matches her season high.
o This was Morris’ first game without a 3-pointer in 10 games, as she had made at least one 3 the past 10 contests.
– Makenzie Cann had seven points and seven rebounds in the game.
o Cann has made a 3-pointer in each outing so far this season.
– Alyssa Rice grabbed six rebounds to go along with two points and two blocks tonight.
– Jaida Roper and Jess Hardin each scored two points off the bench as well.