LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Makayla Epps scored 29 points, Evelyn Akhator had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 19 Kentucky opened its season with an 82-66 win over No. 14 Miami in the Kentucky Classic on Friday night.
Epps, who averaged a team-best 17.1 points per game last season for the Wildcats, went 9 of 18 from the field and 8 of 15 from the free-throw line.
Kentucky trailed 13-12 after the first quarter, but Akhator poured in 12 of her 18 points in the second as the Wildcats raced to a 38-29 halftime lead.
Miami fought back and trailed 69-66 with 3:24 remaining on Keyanna Harris’ layup, but Kentucky ended the game on a 13-0 run.
Adrienne Motley made four 3-pointers to lead the Hurricanes with 16 points. Erykah Davenport and Jessica Thomas added 10 points apiece, and Keyona Hayes had 10 rebounds.
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