LEXINGTON, Ky. — Seventh-ranked Kentucky put six players in double figures in the scoring column, led by Bernisha Pinkett’s 19 points, and used its full-court pressing defense to force 35 Georgia Southern turnovers as the Wildcats downed the Eagles 103-38 in their home opener Wednesday afternoon in Memorial Coliseum.
    Angel McGowan scored 10 points to lead Georgia Southern (0-2), and Briana Jones posted seven points and eight rebounds.
    Kastine Evans scored 15 points for the Wildcats (3-0), while Linnae Harper and DeNesha Stallworth each netted 13 points. Samarie Walker tallied 12 points and nine rebounds, and Azia Bishop collected 10 points and 12 rebounds.
    The Wildcats had 24 steals as a team and scored 44 points off of Eagle turnovers. Kentucky held Georgia Southern to 25.5 percent shooting for the game and scored 22 fast-break points.
    “When we talk about building our program, we talk about having to exert your will on every possession, and we saw that today from them,” Georgia Southern coach Chris Vozab said. “That’s why Kentucky is where it is as a program. We need to learn from this experience.”
    Kentucky’s relentless full-court pressure forced the Eagles into 19 first-half turnovers and rushed Georgia Southern into shooting 5-for-22 from the field. The Wildcats raced out to a 20-5 lead to start the contest, and after the Eagles cut the margin to 23-9, scored 15 straight points en route to a 49-13 cushion at the break.