No. 24 Kentucky women’s basketball (1-0) defeated Morehead State (0-1) 75-59 at Historic Memorial Coliseum in the season opener.
Four key factors allowed for the Wildcats to pick up their first win of the 2025-26 season. Strong performances from newcomers, dominance on the glass, stifling defense and Clara Strack showing why she was expected to be the best player on the team.
New additions showed out in UK debuts
After missing the entire 2024-25 season with a leg injury, Jordan Obi wasted no time showing what Kentucky was missing. Obi finished her Kentucky debut with a double-double. She scored 15 points and grabbed 15 boards, shooting 6-11 from the field.
She scored the Wildcats first six points of the game and led the team in scoring at half with 13 points on 5-7 shooting.
Obi was incredibly active on the offensive glass, seven of her rebounds came on the offensive end which led the team.
Tonie Morgan showcased her playmaking abilities in the half court and transition. She was the primary initiator for the Kentucky offense, she rarely looked for her own shots before trying to involve teammates first.
The Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Top-20 Watchlist member finished her UK debut with a team-leading 16 points and four assists, she also grabbed two boards.
Wildcats dominated the glass
Morehead State was no match for the Wildcats on the glass. Kentucky comfortably won the rebounding battle 54-33.
The Wildcats racked up 21 offensive boards and turned that into 22 second-chance points. Morehead State had just five offensive boards.
Strack and Obi both led the effort on the glass with 15 each, Amelia Hassett supplemented with eight rebounds.
Steals, blocks and forced turnovers
The Wildcats led the nation in blocks per game last season with seven. Strack, Hassett and Teonni Key were the Wildcats leading shot blockers last year. All three have returned and it seems that the Wildcats will be a great shot blocking team once again.
Kentucky ended the game with 12 blocks. Key led the effort with four blocks, Hassett and Asia Boone each had two.
The ‘Cats played the passing lanes very effectively. The team finished with nine steals.
Morehead State turned the ball over 16 times in the game, and Kentucky took full advantage with 13 points off turnovers.
It’s Clara Strack Season
Strack was expected to take a big step-up heading into this season, taking on the role as the Wildcats best player. She has the ability to affect the game in many ways, and that showed tonight.
Strack scored 15 points on 6-13 shooting, grabbing 15 rebounds with six coming on the offensive end. This was the 16th double-double of Strack’s career.
The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year was, unsurprisingly, a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. Strack ended the game with a team-high three steals and adding three blocks.
She led the Wildcats with 35 minutes.
Kentucky increased its lead in the all-time series with Morehead State to 34-4, with 17 straight wins.
The Wildcats are now 44-8 in season openers and 48-4 in home openers, this win extends the streak to 17 games for both.
The Wildcats will be back at Historic Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, Nov. 6, for their next game, taking on Monmouth. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. ET. The game will be shown live on SEC Network+.