Kentucky Women Win on the Road

10 games. 10 wins. It hasn’t been easy and it sure hasn’t been conventional, but the Kentucky women’s basketball team defeated the DePaul Blue Demons in Chicago 96-85 on the road tonight to improve their record to an undefeated 10-0. In her homecoming, freshman Linnae Harper came of the bench to score 18 points to lead the Wildcats in a balanced scoring attack as five players registered double-digit scoring after a slow start.

UK had to adjust after losing star player and All-American candidate DeNesha Stallworth as the post player underwent arthroscopic surgery on her knee just a few days ago. The center is projected to be out 3-4 weeks, and junior Azia Bishop got the start tonight and made the most of it, knocking down eight points on 4-7 shooting. It was all about the freshman, as Makayla Epps joined Harper in double-digit scoring, getting 10 points herself. In the tense moments during tonight’s game, it seemed to be the two freshman that kept the Wildcats composed and giving them clutch, go-to baskets in transition.

The Blue Demons came out racing against the Wildcat, building as high as a 13 point lead in the first half, before Kentucky weathered the storm, settled down and got their offense in check. Without the ever steady Stallworth in the post, the Wildcats were sloppy, throwing the ball away 22 times, and those high turnover numbers helped DePaul hang around throughout the game.  UK was able to pull away in the second half with some stronger defense and smarter offensive plays, though Mitchell will have plenty to teach on in practice before the next game.

The Cats return to action this Sunday afternoon at home against East Tennessee State. Tip off is at 2:00 PM in Memorial Coliseum. Be there.

@WilderTreadKSR