LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore guard Taylor Murray matched her career high of 14 points in the first half alone Wednesday night, scoring 18 points in the game, as she helped push the No. 20 Kentucky women’s basketball team past Morehead State, 74-47. 

 

With Wednesday’s win, Kentucky improves its record to 4-1 on the season. Morehead State drops its second game of the season to fall to 3-2. 

Kentucky got off to a fast start in the opening three minutes of the game, scoring the first 11 points of the game and forcing MSU into an early timeout. The Eagles would respond scoring nine of the next 12 points in the game and pulled to within three points at 20-17 by the end of the first quarter. 

The UK defense then went to work in the second frame, allowing a season-low two points – outscoring the Eagles 13-2 in the quarter. The Wildcats held the Eagles to just 1-of-14 shooting from the floor (.071) and did not allow a point in the final 7:30 of the quarter. 

The Wildcats would not allow a Morehead State field goal for 15 minutes and four seconds spanning two halves as MSU’s first FG in the second half came at the 2:26 mark. 

After the halftime break, where UK led by 14 points, the Wildcats outscored the Eagles 25-11 in the final period, cruising to a 74-47 win. 

Both Murray and senior guard Makayla Epps had 18 points in the game to lead all scorers. Evelyn Akhator and Maci Morris both also ended up in double-figures scoring, with Morris scoring 14 points, and Akhator just one rebound away from a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. 

UK shot 42 percent from the floor on 30-of-70 shooting, including a 3-of-15 mark from beyond the arc. The Eagles shot 22 percent from the floor, going 13-of-57 and 8-of 20 from 3. Five of MSU’s eight 3’s came in the first quarter. 

The Wildcats are back in action on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET inside Memorial Coliseum against Samford. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app on smartphones, tablets and computers. Neil Price can be heard on the UK JMI Sports Network with the pregame show beginning at 1:45. 

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.