LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Dre'una Edwards scored a career-high 27 points, matched her career best with 15 rebounds and No. 11 Kentucky pulled away for a 70-50 win over Belmont on Sunday.
Edwards, the Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year at Utah two seasons ago, was 11-of-19 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers and had three steals and an assist.
It was Edwards' turn to step up as the Wildcats (2-0) played their second-straight game without All-American Rhyne Howard and starting forward Tatyana Wyatt. Howard returns on Thursday against Kansas State but Wyatt will miss another game.
Edwards, who tore an ACL at the end of her freshman season, had just two points her her debut when Chasity Patterson scored 30 points. Patterson had 10 against the Bruins.
Kentucky led most of the way but didn't put Belmont away until starting an 11-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to 19. Edwards contributed a 3-pointer, two free throws and an assist during the run.
Madison Treece led Belmont (0-1) with 14 points. The Bruins shot just 26% in the second half, going 2 of 15 from 3-point range.
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