LEXINGTON, Ky. — Temira Poindexter hit a corner 3-pointer with 56 seconds left in overtime — her eighth 3 of the game — and fifth-seeded Kansas State dodged four misses by No. 4 seed Kentucky in the closing seconds to defeat the host Wildcats 80-79 in the second round of the women’s NCAA tournament Sunday.
Kentucky star Georgia Amoore missed a jumper with 21 seconds left, a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining and then a baseline layup at the buzzer. Amelia Hassett also missed a 3 that would have put Kentucky ahead at Rupp Arena.
Poindexter missed her first six shots but finished 8-of-15 beyond the arc to score 24 points. Serena Sundell added 19 points, including a turnaround jumper with eight seconds left to force overtime, and Ayoka Lee scored 16.
Kansas State (28-7) advanced to face either JuJu Watkins and top-seeded Southern California or No. 9 seed Mississippi State in the Sweet 16 in Spokane, Washington. It will be the Wildcats’ first appearance in the third round in 23 years.
Clara Strack led Kentucky (23-8) with 22 points. Amoore scored 18 points on 7-of-23 shooting.
Amoore hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to give Kentucky a 69-67 lead with 32 seconds left in regulation. After Sundell’s basket, Kentucky’s Dazia Lawrence could not get a clean look before time expired.
Kansas State will have to wait until late Monday night to learn its regional semifinal opponent.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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