NASHVILLE — Mikayla Blakes scored 35 points and Justine Pissott came up with a big defensive play late to help fifth-ranked Vanderbilt edge No. 16 Kentucky 81-79 in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball showdown Sunday at Memorial Gymnasium.
Trailing by one, Kentucky’s Clara Strack had the ball with four seconds left and made a move to the basket from the wing when Pissott deflected it out of Strack’s hand. Blakes gained possession and was fouled with less than a second left. She hit the first of two free throws, and then the Wildcats couldn’t get off a shot.
Aubrey Galvan, who finished with 20 points, hit the go-ahead jumper with 7.9 seconds left to lift Vanderbilt (25-3, 11-3). Pissott finished with eight points, including two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. One of those 3-pointers tied the game with 2:21 left.
The victory ties Vanderbilt with No 4 Texas for second place in the SEC standings — behind third-ranked South Carolina (27-2, 13-1) — with two games left in regular-season play.
Strack led the Wildcats (20-8, 7-7) in scoring, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amelia Hassett added 15 points, hitting five 3-pointers.
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