Epps, Akhator Named to SEC All-Tournament Team

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky women’s basketball seniors Makayla Epps and Evelyn Akhator have been named to the Southeastern Conference All-Tournament Team for their strong performances in the Wildcats’ run to the semifinals of the event, it was announced Sunday afternoon. 

Both players averaged over 20 points in Kentucky’s two games with Akhator averaging 23.5 points per game and 10.0 rebounds per game, while Epps averaged 21.5 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game. This is Akhator’s first SEC All-Tournament Team selection, while Epps has earned her third straight selection to the team. Epps joins A’dia Mathies and Valerie Still as the only other players in school history to be named to the team three or more times. Epps and Akhator are the 10th and 11th players in program history to earn a spot on the SEC All-Tournament Team. Kentucky has now had at least one player named to the team each of the last eight seasons. 

Epps scored 12 points with five rebounds and one assist in Kentucky’s quarterfinal win against Alabama, before posting a game-high 31 points with nine rebounds and three assists in Saturday’s semifinal against No. 5 South Carolina. Epps is the second player in program history to have two or more games of 30 or more points in the SEC Tournament. Epps is averaging a team-best 17.2 points per game this season and was the only player to end the regular season ranking top 10 in the SEC in points, assists and field-goal percentage.

Akhator was brilliant in both games over the weekend, pacing Kentucky with 23 points, nine rebounds and three assists against Alabama. The native of Lagos, Nigeria, went 7-of-13 from the field, including 9-of-12 from the free-throw line in the game. She followed that performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds – seven offensive – against South Carolina. The double-double against the Gamecocks was her 16th this season and 29th in her career. Akhator ranks top 20 nationally in double-doubles, rebounds per game and field goal percentage. 

Kentucky (21-10) will find out its NCAA Tournament destination on Monday, March 13 during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. 

For more information on the Kentucky women’s basketball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @KentuckyWBB on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, or Kentucky Women’s Basketball on Facebook.

A’ja Wilson, South Carolina*

Kaela Davis, South Carolina

Morgan William, Mississippi State

* Tournament MVP