LEXINGTON, Ky. — Mikaylah Williams scored 15 of her 24 points in the second half as No. 7 LSU rallied from 16 points down to beat No. 14 Kentucky 65-58 on Sunday.

The Tigers (27-2, 12-2 Southeastern Conference) fell behind 38-22 in the first half, but outscored the Wildcats 23-6 in the third quarter. The fourth quarter featured four lead changes before Williams hit a wide open 3-pointer with 50 seconds left to put the game away.

Georgia Amoore led Kentucky (21-5, 10-4) with 16 points, but shot just 6 of 22, including 3 of 15 from beyond the arc.

Amoore in the post game interview said, “Every single thing that I’ve been through basketball-wise, it has shaped me into the player I am, and I think I hear it all the time. I’m too short, I’m not quick enough, I’m not this, I’m not that. But it’s like, okay, what I’m then because we’re a ranked team, people scout for me. I don’t know if that’s a nobody then.”

LSU leading scorer Flau’Jae Johnson was held to 13 points and 13 rebounds.

It was LSU coach Kim Mulkey’s 750th career victory and secured a top-four seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

After the game, Kentucky head coach Kenny Brooks said, “Obviously, disappointed with the outcome, obviously not trying to play for moral victories. We want to get a ‘victory victory,’ but we give LSU credit. I thought they came out in the second half, and they wanted it more than we did, and it kind showed when we played.”

Takeaways

Kentucky: Not only did Amoore have an off day shooting, the Wildcats had to deal with foul trouble. Starters Dazia Lawrence and Clara Strack picked up their third fouls early in the third quarter. Teonni Key was limited to just three minutes in the first half after getting two quick fouls.

LSU: The Tigers turned up the intensity in the second half. Trailing 38-26 at the break, Johnson and Williams scored two quick baskets to open the half. They forced two quick turnovers and grabbed multiple offensive rebounds.

Key stat

After giving up 11 offensive rebounds in the first half, LSU reversed those numbers with 10 offensive rebounds and forcing the Wildcats into 8-of-28 shooting and nine turnovers. LSU also out-rebounded Kentucky 27-16 in the second half.

Up next

Kentucky hosts No. 15 Tennessee on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network.