LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bradley hung with seventh-ranked Kentucky in the early going and trailed 23-20 nearing the midway point of the first half, before the Wildcats took control of the contest with a 25-0 run and cruised to a 117-77 victory against the Braves Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.

Michelle Young (Woodbury, Minn./Woodbury) scored 10 of her game-high 27 points in the first 10 minutes of the contest and pulled Bradley (2-4 overall) within five points at 26-21 with a free throw at 9:59 on the clock in the opening period.

Kentucky (7-0 overall), which claimed its 42nd consecutive non-conference home victory, held the Braves without a field goal for just over six minutes and the Wildcats seized the momentum with a 25-0 run.  UK extended the advantage to as many as 32 points in the first half, before a late a late BU run to end the period.

Bradley shot 51.4 percent in the second half, but Kentucky scored 58 second half points to hold off any BU rally attempts en route to the 117-77 win.  The Braves were down 96-71 with 6:41 left, when the Wildcats closed the game with a 21-6 run.

Young led all players with 27 points on 12-of-21 shooting and tied a career-high with six rebounds to go with three steals.  She was one of three Bradley players in double figures for the shorthanded Braves, who had just eight players in uniform due to injuries.

Senior Catie O'Leary (Janesville, Wis./Parker/Wisconsin) turned in her best offensive game of the year with 16 points and also had a team-high eight rebounds.  Fellow senior Kelly Frings (Milwaukee, Wis./Pius XI) added 10 points in the setback as the trio helped the Braves to the highest point total by a Kentucky opponent this season.  Kelsey Budd (Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) dished out a game-high six assists in addition to collecting eight points and six rebounds. 

The Wildcats were ranked third in the nation in scoring through Sunday with a 95.0 points-per-game average and six UK players had 10 or more points.  Samarie Walker finished with a career-high 22 points and 14 rebounds, while preseason All-American DeNesha Stallworth had 13 points, 10 boards and three blocks.  Kentucky made 10-of-26 three-point attempts in the win.

Bradley returns to action next Wednesday playing the first game of a men's and women's basketball doubleheader at Renaissance Coliseum.  The Braves face in-state foe Eastern Illinois Wednesday at 5 p.m. Fans who bring in a new unwrapped toy for the Bradley Toy's For Tot's Drive will receive an entry in the NCAA National Ticket Giveaway for Final Four Tickets (one entry per toy).  The $50 Coliseum Four Pack, which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks, is available for purchase at the Renaissance Coliseum Ticket office