Epps scores 20, No. 10 Kentucky women beat Florida

Posted January 14, 2015 10:00 pm

By KEITH TAYLOR

Kentucky's Makayla Epps (25) shoots near Florida's Haley Lorenzen, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/James Crisp) The Associated Press

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Makayla Epps scored 20 points and kept No. 10 Kentucky ahead with perfect foul shooting Thursday night in a 62-56 win over Florida.

Epps made all eight of her free throws, including six in the final two minutes. She shot 6 for 10 from the field and also had four assists.

Kentucky (15-3, 4-1 Southeastern Conference) bounced back from a 68-60 loss at top-ranked South Carolina on Sunday. The Wildcats lost starting point guard Janee Thompson to a season-ending ankle injury in that defeat.

Linnae Harper had 14 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats.

Kentucky welcomed the return of senior Bria Goss, who had missed the previous six games because of a thumb injury. She didn't score, but had a crucial offensive rebound that led to Epps' two foul shots with 32 seconds left.

Cassie Peoples led Florida (9-9, 1-4) with 12 points and Kayla Lewis added 10.

Florida led 51-50 with 4:17 remaining, but Jennifer O'Neill hit a 3-pointer during a 7-0 run that put the Wildcats ahead for good.

Kentucky made seven of 10 free throws in the final two minutes in a game that had 17 lead changes.

The Wildcats missed all eight of their 3-point attempts in the first half. They made three in the second half, two by O'Neill.

TIP-INS

Florida: The last nine games between the two teams have been decided by 10 points or less. ... The Gators, No. 1 in the SEC with an average of 14 steals per game, had six against the Wildcats.

Kentucky: The Wildcats lost two of three games to the Gators last season, including an 83-73 loss in Memorial Coliseum. ... The Wildcats wore blue T-shirts with white letters inscribed "Our B3st," in support of Thompson, who wears jersey No. 3. . Senior Jelleah Sidney made her first appearance in 13 games. She's been slowed by a sore knee.

UP NEXT

Florida hosts No. 1 South Carolina on Monday.

Kentucky visits LSU on Sunday.

Kentucky's Kyvin Goodin-Rogers, right, shoots under pressure from Florida's Brooke Copeland (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/James Crisp) The Associated Press

Kentucky's Makayla Epps (25) shoots the arm of Florida's Haley Lorenzen (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Kentucky won 62-56. (AP Photo/James Crisp) The Associated Press

Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell calls a play during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. Kentucky won 62-56. (AP Photo/James Crisp) The Associated Press

Kentucky's Azia Bishop, fight, and Florida's Brooke Copeland fight for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015. (AP Photo/James Crisp) The Associated Press

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