LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Taylor Murray had 16 points and seven rebounds, Evelyn Akhator had her sixth double-double and No. 15 Kentucky turned back Middle Tennessee 61-48.
The Wildcats stretched a 35-31 halftime lead to 10 entering the fourth quarter when both teams went cold. Through the first half of the final period the teams were a combined 2 for 16. Kentucky (7-2) snapped out of its slumber to pull away while the Blue Raiders (2-4) finished 1 of 11.
Akhator had 13 points and 12 rebounds as Kentucky had a 44-22 rebounding advantage. Makayla Epps also had 13 points.
Middle Tennessee had a seven-point lead in the second quarter before the Wildcats went on an 11-0 run, started by Akhator's 3-point play. Her layup tied it before Murray, who had three steals, turned back-to-back turnovers into layups.
Alex Johnson had 19 points for the Blue Raiders and Ty Petty hit five 3-pointers for 17 points. After hitting 6 of 13 3s in the first half, Middle Tennessee missed all six in the second.
