LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Sha Brooks scored 21 points, including a key 3-pointer, to lead Florida to a 68-61 win over No. 21 Kentucky on Sunday.
Brooks’ 3-pointer with 1:21 left extended Florida’s lead to 61-55, and the Gators (17-5, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) made 7-of-8 free throws in the final 53 seconds.
Kentucky (15-6, 4-4 SEC) lost for the second straight time since defeating then-No. 1 Tennessee 66-63 on Jan. 26.
Brooks made 7-of-12 shots from the field and made three of Florida’s five shots from beyond the arc. Dalila Eshe had 13 of her 17 points in the second half and Brittany Davis added 12 for the Gators.
Reserve Samantha Mahoney lead the Wildcats with 13 points, followed by fellow reserve Sarah Elliott with 12.
Mahoney scored seven points in 17-3 run for a 25-17 lead with 4:35 left in the first half. Florida scored the last six points on a pair of 3-pointers by Brooks to trail 31-29 at halftime.
Kentucky tied the score at 49 with 7:56 left but failed to regain the lead.