WALDRON GRAIN & FUEL

02/22 17:35 CST Mikayla Blakes scores 35 as No. 5 Vanderbilt survives No. 16 Kentucky 81-79 on late stop Mikayla Blakes scores 35 as No. 5 Vanderbilt survives No. 16 Kentucky 81-79 on late stop By JACK WILLIAMS Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) --- 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 4 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 3's 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.

Up next Kentucky: At Auburn on Thursday. Vanderbilt: Hosts No. 25 Alabama on Thursday. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball