Alabama women’s basketball fell to the no. 10/9 ranked Kentucky Wildcats 73-48 Thursday night in the team’s second conference matchup of the season. Alabama’s record slid to 12-3 (1-1) while Kentucky improved its record to 12-1 (1-1) on the season.

Alabama and Kentucky opened up the first half neck and neck until the Wildcats strung together an 8-0 run to take a 15-9 lead at the end of the quarter. The Wildcats would hold a lead as large as 14 in the second quarter, but Alabama would cut that lead to 10 at the half, 29-19.

Alabama cut the lead down to single digits in the opening portion of the second half, but after an 11-3 run by the Wildcats in the final portion of the quarter, UK lead 51-33 at the end of the third. Alabama put together an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter with less than seven minutes to play, but Kentucky would hold on to claim the victory.

Sophomores Karyla Middlebrook and Hannah Cook lead the team in scoring, with 12 and 10 points, respectively. Senior Nikki Hegstetter grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

The Wildcats saw many players get involved, with five players scoring in double-digits. Junior Evelyn Akhator led UK in scoring, tallying 21 points in the victory.

The Wildcats shot 43.5 percent (27-62) from the field, while Alabama shot 30.4 percent (17-56). Alabama was out-rebounded 45-30 by UK.

Alabama returns to action Sunday when it takes on Vanderbilt in Foster Auditorium.