UK hoops trips up Missouri 83-69 behind a solid defense
January 26, 2015
By Kevin Erpenbeck
UK Hoops used a strong second-half defense and double-figure scoring from five different players to bury Missouri in Columbia, MO. for the 83-69 win.
It was the Cats’ first road win in two games, previously losing to No. 1 South Carolina and LSU.
No. 14 UK found itself in a tough battle with the Tigers in the first half, with both teams making runs but never quite separating themselves. Missouri shot 46 percent from the field while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc. The Tigers scored 11 points in the final three minutes of the half to bring the Cats’ lead down to three at 43-40.
Missouri then led the Cats 50-48 six minutes into the second half after UK went on a four-minute scoreless streak. But the Cats ramped up their defense and held Missouri to only 20 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from the three.
UK senior guard Jennifer O’Neill led the team in scoring with 19 points, scoring 15 in the second half. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line and shot 50 percent from the floor.
However, it was the Cats’ sophomore guards that stole the show. Makayla Epps finished with 18 points and snagged 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Linnae Harper also finished with a double-double, which was her fifth of the season. She recorded 15 points, 11 boards and had four steals.
Senior guard Bria Goss and freshman forward Alexis Jennings also scored in double-digits. Goss scored 16 points, tied for the most she has scored all season, while Jennings had 10 points, her tenth game of scoring 10-plus points.
UK (16-4) will face No. 5 Tennessee (17-3) in Memorial Coliseum on Thursday. In the teams’ previous meeting, the Cats lost to the Lady Volunteers in the SEC Championship last season.
