Jennings’ Double-Double Paces UK Hoops Past Union University
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore Alexis Jennings’ double-double paced the No. 18/17 University of Kentucky women’s basketball team to a 95-63 exhibition win over Union University (TN) on Sunday afternoon in front of 2,095 fans at Memorial Coliseum.
Jennings scored a game-high 20 points and added in 12 rebounds, with 14 points and six rebounds coming in the fourth quarter.
Kentucky opens its regular season on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET against the Rice Owls in Memorial Coliseum. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+, WatchESPN and ESPN3 as well as the UK Sports Network and its local affiliates with the pregame show beginning at 6:45 p.m.
UK closed the game on a 10-0 run, including a dominating fourth quarter showing, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs by 11 in the fourth quarter.
Kentucky started strong aided by a 13-0 run midway through the first quarter paced by Janee Thompson, who scored eight points inside the first six minutes of the frame, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc.
The first half closed with UK on a 29-4 run as the Wildcats shot 53 percent from the floor, led by Thompson’s eight points. Freshman Maci Morris went 2-for-3 from 3, scoring six points. Evelyn Akhator had five rebounds to lead all players.
In the second quarter, Kentucky extended its lead by five to take a 44-27 lead into the locker room at the half. Akhator led UK in scoring with eight points, six in the second quarter, and five rebounds. Kentucky ended the first half with an 18-0 edge in points in the paint and forced 13 Union turnovers, converting those into 16 points and eight of those on the fast break.
Union scored 12 of its 15 points from beyond the arc, going 4-of-8 from 3 in the second quarter led by Kelsey Risner who was 4-for-9 from 3 in the first half for a team-high 12 points.
UK shot 62 percent in the third quarter, outscoring Union 23-19. The Lady Bulldogs added to their outside shooting, making two more 3’s as they converted on 12 of their long-distance efforts through the first three quarters.
Akhator remained perfect from the floor for Kentucky, going 6-for-6 through the first 30 minutes, scoring a team-high 12 points along with Thompson. Akhator also led the Wildcats on the glass with seven rebounds, and four of them offensive.
Akhator, in her first game in the Blue and White, closed the game with 12 points and seven rebounds. Thompson was UK’s second-leading scorer with 17 points and also added seven rebounds. Six UK players finished in double figures, with Taylor Murray, Maci Morris and Kyvin Goodin-Rogers joining Akhator, Thompson and Jennings.
For the latest on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, follow @UKHoopCats on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
