By Kindsey Bernhard
NKyTribune intern
Kentucky senior Makayla Epps scored 31 points and classmate Evelyn Akhator had a double-double to lead the Kentucky women’s basketball team to a 78-60 victory over Union University in an exhibition game Thursday night.
Epps shot 50 percent from the field and made her first five field goals from the field to set the tone for the double-digit victory. Epps was 6-for-9 from 3-point range and added five rebounds and four assists.
“I want to be dangerous on every aspect of basketball, (driving) to the rim, mid-range (jumper and) three-point (shot),” Epps said. “I don’t want people to just like leave me open and not respect my jump shot.”
Akhator was active on the glass and snagged 12 offensive rebounds and made seven free throws on 10 attempts.
Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell was pleased with his two seniors in their first outing of the season.
“She (Epps) and Evelyn are our two horses that we have (and) they need to get the most touches,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell used nine players and seven scored.
Kentucky opened the contest by shooting 80 percent from the 3-point line in the first quarter, hitting four shots from long range. Overall, Kentucky was 10-for-25 behind the arc and finished 27 of 71 from the field.
Former University of Cincinnati standout and Anderson County High School star Makenzie Cann made her debut after sitting out last year because of NCAA transfer rules and finished with 10 points. Cann made three shots from long range and played 18 minutes.
“In her first game action in two years, (Cann) was very coachable tonight and tried to play her role,” Mitchell said. “She will get better from this. All of our players will get better from this point, but you know I thought it was a really good game for her. (I’m) really proud. I know she was excited to play.”
Kentucky opens the season against Miami of Florida on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum.
Kindsey Bernhard is a senior journalism major at the University of Kentucky. She is from Fort Wright.