Morgan, Strack Lead No. 11 Kentucky Past Missouri
Clara Strack had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds as No. 11 Kentucky cruised past Missouri 74-52 on Sunday inside Historic Memorial Coliseum.
It was Strack’s eighth double-double of the season and the 24th of her career.
Tonie Morgan also had a double-double on Sunday, scoring 18 points and dishing out 14 assists. It was Morgan’s fourth double-double of the season and the 19th of her career.
Jordan Obi was the third Wildcat in double figures with 10 points.
Missouri got on the board first with a three but Strack scored on the baseline to get UK within one. The Tigers scored again before Morgan got a steal and score to make it 5-4. After two Missouri free throws, Strack hit a three from the left wing to tie the game at 7-7.
Kentucky (15-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) would take an 8-7 lead on a Teonni Key free throw, but Missouri would score the next four to lead 11-8. A Key basket got the Cats within one and a Strack jumper gave UK a 12-11 lead. The Tigers would take the lead back before Asia Boone and Morgan hit threes to give the Cats an 18-13 lead. In the final minutes of the period, UK would get baskets from Obi, Morgan and Obi again and UK led 24-17 after one period.
The Cats scored the first five points of the second quarter on a Strack three and a Key layup, taking a 29-17 lead in the process. Missouri answered with five points in a row before Strack scored underneath and Boone hit another three, giving UK a 34-22 lead.
Missouri scored four in a row before Amelia Hassett made it 36-26 Cats. After a Tigers’ bucket, Morgan closed the first half scoring with a layup that gave Kentucky a 38-28 lead at the break. Strack led all scorers with 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
Strack stayed hot early in the third quarter, hitting her third three of the game. However, Missouri hit back-to-back threes to get within seven, 41-34. Strack then made two free throws and Morgan made a layup to give UK a 45-34 advantage. After a Missouri bucket, Strack scored again and Obi scored on a putback, giving the Cats a 49-36 lead.
Hassett hit a triple to extend the lead to 16 but Missouri scored four in a row to cut the UK lead to 52-40. However, Morgan would score at the buzzer and Kentucky took a 54-40 lead into the final stanza.
Kentucky blew the game open early in the fourth quarter. Morgan hit a free throw, then Boone, Morgan, Hassett and Lexi Blue hit threes, capping a13-0 run that gave UK a 67-40 lead. Missouri responded with a 10-1 run to make it 68-50
Kentucky returns to action on Thursday, visiting Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET and the game can be seen on SEC Network Plus.
