Clara Strack led Kentucky with 17 points and she added nine rebounds. Ajša Sivka had 12 points and eight assists, while Diana Collins and Maddyn Greenway each added 12. Me’Arah O’Neal had 10 points and seven boards for the Cats, while freshman Emily McDonald added 10. Another freshman, Savvy Swords, led all players with 11 rebounds.
Kentucky missed its first three shots from the field, but the Cats were able to get the first points on the board when Strack scored on a putback. A three from Sivka and a baseline jumper by Swords gave UK a 7-0 lead. Sivka scored in the lane to extend the lead and an Asia Boone bucket gave Kentucky an 11-0 advantage.
Swords scored on a pass from O’Neal to stretch the lead before Morehead State got on the board to cut the lead to 13-2. Strack scored on a spinner in the lane and was fouled. The three-point play made it 16-2. The Eagles scored to get within 12, but Strack scored the final points of the period, which ended with UK leading 18-4.
MSU scored the first two points of the second quarter, but O’Neal answered and the Cats led 20-6. O’Neal scored again, then Collins broke free for a layup and Sivka hit a three to stretch the lead to 27-6. Morehead State hit a three to cut the UK lead to 18 but Strack, Swords and Greenway scored and UK led 33-9.
After two MSU free throws, McDonald scored her first points as a Wildcat and UK led 35-11. The Eagles got a free throw before Strack scored in the lane to extend the lead to 25. Morehead State hit a three, but Collins answered for the Cats and it was 40-15. Strack scored the final points of the half and Kentucky led 42-15 at the break.
Strack scored the first two points of the third quarter, but the Eagles answered with a bucket on their end. Collins converted two consecutive layups to stretch the lead to 48-17. After an MSU basket, Sivka hit a pair of free throws, giving UK a 50-19 advantage. Layups by Strack and O’Neal extended the lead to 35. MSU hit one free throw before Ayanna Patterson scored her first points as a Wildcat, making it 56-20.
After a Morehead State bucket, McDonald converted a three-point play, stretching the lead to 37 points. MSU scored the next four before Greenway scored on a fast-break layup, giving UK a 61-26 lead. After the Eagles scored, Sivka made two free throws and the third quarter ended with UK leading 63-28.
O’Neal hit two free throws to start the final period, but MSU answered with a three, making it 65-31. O’Neal scored on a baseline jumper and Collins hit a three, extending the lead to 70-31. The Eagles scored, but McDonald responded with a layup off a Swords pass. After another MSU bucket, Greenway made two free throws and the Cats led 74-35.
Morehead State hit a three but Greenway responded with a layup. The Cats would eventually lead by as many as 43 points, including at the final buzzer.
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, hosting Northern Kentucky. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.