LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Makayla Epps capped a career night with a putback basket as time expired in the second overtime to give No. 10 Kentucky a wild 92-90 victory over No. 13 Mississippi State on Thursday night.
Epps scored 42 points but saved her biggest basket for last as she grabbed her own miss and put in a soft shot for the winner that sparked a big celebration for the Wildcats (19-5, 8-3 Southeastern Conference).
The sophomore guard’s scoring total was second in program history behind Jennifer O’Neill’s 43 points against Baylor in a four-overtime victory last season. Epps made 18 of 30 from the field including two 3-pointers that helped the Wildcats win their third in a row.
Epps also won a scoring duel with the Bulldogs’ Victoria Vivians, whose career-high 39 points with five 3s gave Mississippi State (23-4, 9-4) chances to win.