LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Janee Thompson scored 12 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter as the 15th-ranked Kentucky women pulled away for a 69-59 win over No. 24 Missouri on Thursday night.
Evelyn Akhator made 6 of 8 from the field and scored 15 with nine rebounds, while Makayla Epps added 14 points for Kentucky.
Missouri (21-7, 8-7 Southeastern Conference) trailed by 13 at the half before outscoring the Wildcats 25-11 in the third to take a 51-50 lead into the final quarter.
Thompson hit a 3, and then converted a 3-point play to give Kentucky (20-6, 9-6) a 56-51 lead fewer than two minutes in. After Missouri’s Sophie Cunningham hit two free throws, Akhator hit a jumper and Thompson made three baskets in an 8-2 spurt that made it 64-55 with 2:53 left and the Tigers trailed by at least seven the rest of the way.
Cunningham led Missouri with 29 points.