LEXINGTON, Ky. — DeNesha Stallworth had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead No. 7 Kentucky to a 96-64 victory over DePaul on Friday night.

Stallworth, a junior transfer, passed 1,000 career points while recording her second game with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds this season.

Samarie Walker added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (7-1), who shot 49 percent from the field in their sixth consecutive victory. A’dia Mathies had 17 points and nine rebounds, and Jennifer O’Neill scored 13.

Kentucky also improved to 3-0 against DePaul in the first game between the schools since 1984.

The Wildcats got off to a fast start in their lone home game this season at Rupp Arena, scoring 23 consecutive points for a 25-2 lead.

Jasmine Perry scored 16 points for the Blue Demons (6-3). Lexington-area native Anna Martin had 14 points and Brittany Hrynko finished with 13.

DePaul shot just 40 percent and committed 21 turnovers.

Kentucky was coming off a 48-47 comeback victory at No. 6 Louisville on Sunday, a sloppy game saved by freshman Janee Thompson’s winning three-pointer with 8.4 seconds left.

This one was a runaway from the start, with the Wildcats establishing a fast pace that the Blue Demons struggled to match in their first road game.

O’Neill scored six seconds into the game. Stallworth’s follow made it 4-2 32 seconds later and started Kentucky’s run of 23 consecutive points.

DePaul put together a 10-0 run to close to 40-24 in the first half. But the Blue Demons couldn’t keep up with the Wildcats, especially Stallworth, who had 11 points and seven rebounds to help Kentucky carry a 51-33 lead into the break.

Unfazed by Penny or Katherine Harry in front of her, Stallworth fought her way to the basket and was just as fierce in Kentucky’s pressure defense that made it hard for DePaul to inbound the ball early on.

Sports, Pages 24 on 12/08/2012