BOX SCORE (PDF)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Samford women's basketball team dropped an 80-57 decision at 20^th-ranked Kentucky Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.
 
"I didn't think we had much fight in the first half, outside of the first five or six minutes," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "In the second half, we definitely had the fight, the grit and the toughness, and we were totally engaged. I think our preparation, mentally leading up to the start of the game wasn't what it needed to be, and those are things we have to learn regardless of who we're playing."
 
For the game, Kassidy Blevins led Samford with 18 points. Hannah Nichols followed with 17 points. Olivia Crozier led the team in rebounding with five, while Brittany Stevens dished out a team-high four assists.
 
Kentucky was led by Makayla Epps with 20 points. Evelyn Akhator and Taylor Murray scored 15 points each, while Makenzie Cann added 12 points. Akhator also led all players with 13 rebounds.
 
Samford grabbed an early 4-2 lead with 8:44 left in the first quarter. With Samford leading, 7-6, Kentucky closed the quarter with a 14-5 run to take a 22-12 lead into the second period. In the second quarter, Kentucky outscored Samford, 19-5 to take a 41-17 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Bulldogs came back and outscored the Wildcats, 25-22 in the third quarter to trail, 63-42 heading into the final period. Kentucky outscored Samford, 17-15 in the fourth quarter to take the 80-57 win.
 
As a team, Samford shot 42.0 percent from the floor, while Kentucky made 51.9 percent of its shots. Kentucky outrebounded Samford, 36-21.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 2-4 on the young season. Kentucky improves to 5-1 with the win.
 
Samford will host Alabama State on Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Pete Hanna Center. To purchase women's basketball tickets click here: WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TICKETS.