Final: Kentucky 85, Morehead State 42

Final from Historic Memorial Coliseum: Kentucky 85, Morehead State 42.

Kentucky women's basketball opened the 2026-27 season the way a team with real expectations should, smothering Morehead State from the opening tip and never letting the Eagles get comfortable. The Wildcats led for 96 percent of the night, pushed the margin as high as 43 and moved to 1-0.

Clara Strack was the best player on the floor. She finished with 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked six shots, anchoring a Kentucky defense that swatted 11 shots as a team. With Strack and Me'Arah O'Neal (10 points, seven rebounds) working the paint, Kentucky outscored Morehead State 54-20 in the paint.

Ajsa Sivka was the engine. She handed out eight assists, hit both of her 3-point tries and went 4-for-4 at the line for 12 points. Kentucky finished with 20 assists against just eight turnovers, a ratio that will play against anybody on the schedule.

The scoring came from everywhere. Diana Collins was perfect, 5-for-5 from the floor and 2-for-2 from deep, for 12 points. Maddyn Greenway added 12 points and four assists off the bench and Emily McDonald chipped in 10. Savvy Swords did the dirty work with 11 rebounds, nine of them on the offensive glass.

Kentucky took an 18-4 lead after one quarter and a 42-15 lead into halftime, then won every quarter (18-4, 24-11, 21-13, 22-14). The Wildcats won the boards 49-30, grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and turned Morehead State's 20 turnovers into 21 points. The Eagles shot 31 percent (17-of-55). Kensley Feltner led Morehead State with 16 points and three 3-pointers, and Lanae Riley added 11.

Kentucky went just 5-of-23 from 3-point range (22 percent). Against a schedule that tightens fast, the Wildcats will want more of those to fall.

Kentucky stays home Thursday, Nov. 5, against Northern Kentucky at Memorial Coliseum (6:30 PM ET, SEC Network+). Then it's the Ally Tipoff against NC State in Charlotte on Sunday, Nov. 8 (3 PM ET, ESPN2).

Kentucky leaders:
- Clara Strack: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocks
- Ajsa Sivka: 12 points, 8 assists
- Diana Collins: 12 points (5-5 FG)
- Maddyn Greenway: 12 points, 4 assists
- Me'Arah O'Neal: 10 points, 7 rebounds
- Emily McDonald: 10 points
- Savvy Swords: 6 points, 11 rebounds

Stats via ESPN's box score.