Pinkett leads with 19 points; five other players reach double-digit scoring
*Photo by Regina Rickert
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Reserve Bernisha Pinkett scored 19 points, leading No. 7 Kentucky to a 103-38 rout of Georgia Southern on Wednesday.
Playing the morning home opener before about 2,000 enthusiastic sixth graders, the Wildcats (3-0) followed up Sunday’s 49-point win over Wagner with a 54-point second half against the overpowered Eagles (1-2).
Kentucky thrived on both ends, forcing 35 turnovers and shooting 51 percent to win its first meeting against the Southern Conference member.
Starting guard Kastine Evans added 15 points, DeNesha Stallworth and Linnae Harper each had 13, Samarie Walker added 12 and Azia Bishop had 10 with a team-high 12 rebounds.
Guard Angel McGowan shook off a second-half ankle injury to score 10 points for Georgia Southern, which shot just 25 percent.
Kentucky dominated every category including points in the paint (54-18), on the fast break (22-4) and by the bench (58-22). The Wildcats also dominated the Eagles in assists, 26-5; Evans and freshman Makayla Epps each had six.
Kentucky had finished well in weekend victories at Marist and Wagner to open the season, but coach Matthew Mitchell stressed the need to start better after trailing both opponents. Georgia Southern had lost 69-59 Saturday at Auburn, hitting seven 3-pointers and narrowly losing the rebound category.
Pinkett leads with 19 points; five other players reach double-digit scoring
On Wednesday, they were completely overcome by a fresh Wildcats team despite the mid-morning start.
A 10-0 start helped Kentucky to a 49-13 halftime lead that tied a school record for scoring margin. The defense forced 19 turnovers, resulting in 23 points, and the team shot 49 percent.
Though the Wildcats ran by the Eagles often, they also showed patience by working the ball around before taking shots. Kentucky had several possessions where every player touched the ball before launching an attempt, racking up 11 first-half assists in the process.
The fast pace at both ends flustered Georgia Southern, which shot 5 of 22 (23 percent) in the first half and didn’t record an assist. Things didn’t improve much in the second half.
Also, Georgia Southern lost guard Alexis Sams to a right knee injury late in the first half. The sophomore screamed as she fell to the floor holding her knee but was able to walk off without crutches; she had her leg bandaged and did not return.
McGowan, a freshman who plays with a left knee brace, left for several minutes in the second half after injuring her right ankle. She ended up making 4 of 7 attempts from the field, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc.
Kentucky guard Janee Thompson left for several minutes after being poked in the eye on the Wildcats’ first possession. She returned later wearing goggles.
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