NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mikayla Blakes scored 35 points, and Justine Pissott came up with a big defensive play late to help No. 5 Vanderbilt edge 16th-ranked Kentucky 81-79 on Sunday.
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 then 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 SEC). Pissott finished with eight points, including two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. One of those 3s tied the game with 2:21 left.
The victory ties Vanderbilt with No. 4 Texas for second place in the SEC 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.