When the Kentucky Wildcats take the floor at Historic Memorial Coliseum tonight, the coaching matchup will pit two coaches with vastly different levels of experience.
Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks has been on the collegiate sidelines since 1994, when he first joined the men’s basketball staff at VMI as an assistant. His counterpart tonight is Jackie Alexander, who began her coaching journey in 2017 as a video coordinator at Air Force.
This will be Alexander’s very first game as a collegiate head
coach, but do not expect her to be intimidated by the bright lights in Lexington.
Before she ever picked up a clipboard, Anderson served in the United States Army and saw active duty from 2014 to 2017, reaching the rank of captain. She knows how to handle pressure, and she is bringing a fearless mentality to the Morehead State program.
How Morehead State will attack
If you are wondering how a first-year coach will try to handle a loaded SEC opponent, the answer is simple. She is going head-on.
Anderson wants her team to fly up and down the court and look for a shot within the first 12 seconds of the shot clock. She intends to punish opponents who lack the cardio to handle relentless pace and intense, in-your-face defense.
On offense, she wants fast ball movement and high energy. Kentucky is going to get a nice early-season conditioning challenge and will absolutely have to show up ready to run. You never want to allow a team like Morehead to get comfortable and settle in early.
The truth is the talent and size gap between these two programs is exceptionally wide at every position.
The tallest player on the Morehead State roster is 6-foot-3 UIC transfer, Marissa Green.
On the other side, Kentucky rolls out Ajša Sivka, Clara Strack, and Me’Arah O’Neal, who all stand at 6-foot-5. The Wildcats should completely dominate the glass and find easy scoring opportunities in the paint.
But that doesn’t mean the Eagles won’t put up a fight.
Scouting Morehead State
The Eagles were picked to finish eighth in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference in the preseason poll of league coaches and SIDs. The roster features a heavy mix of transfers and new faces trying to blend into Anderson’s high-speed system.
Breayah Jefferson will be a key player to watch. The guard comes from Monroe University in New York, where she was named an NJCAA Division 1 Honorable Mention All-American. She averaged 18 points per game, hit 45 percent from the floor, and eclipsed the 20-point mark five times last season. Juliana Rodger will also provide a scoring punch after averaging 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game at Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto.
The rest of the Eagles roster brings various levels of collegiate experience. Courtney Smith arrives from Montana State, where she played 27 games last season. Kamora Morgan joins from Northern Kentucky, bringing reliable free-throw shooting after hitting 84 percent from the stripe. Guard Kensley Feltner spent three seasons at Belmont but saw her 2025-2026 campaign limited to just five games due to injury.
Rounding out the rotation, the Eagles will look to James Madison transfer Alonna Poole, Akron transfer Lanae Riley, along with Millie Pearson and Samaria Taylor to eat up minutes and provide depth against a deep Kentucky bench.
Kentucky projected starting lineup
The Wildcats bring heavy firepower and elite size to the floor. Here is a look at how Kenny Brooks will most likely roll out:
- Asia Boone (Senior Guard, 5-8) 10.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.7 3PG, 36.5% 3FG%
- Me’Arah O’Neal (Junior Forward, 6-5) 13.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.4 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.9% FG%
- Ajša Sivka (Guard, 6-5) Top-10 WNBA pick
- Clara Strack (Senior Center, 6-5) 16.9 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 2.5 BPG, 48.1% FG%
- Diana Collins (Senior Guard, 5-10) 8.4 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 39.8% 3FG%
I wouldn’t mind seeing a couple of the McDonald’s All-American freshmen there, but Brooks really likes to rely on veterans. That is a big reason why you saw Kaelyn Carroll hit the portal after last year. But the trio of Maddyn Greenway, Saavy Swords, and Emily McDonald will see a lot of time on the court this year.
Game details and final prediction
Tipoff is set for 6:30 pm at Historic Memorial Coliseum in Lexington. Fans can stream the action exclusively on SEC Network+.
While Morehead State will play with incredible effort and push the tempo, Kentucky simply has too much size, skill, and depth.
The Wildcats will control the paint, dictate the boards, and score with ease once they settle into the flow of the game.
Final Score Prediction: Kentucky 82, Morehead State 59
