So close in Lexington

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two turnovers and a fortunate basket with the clock running out allowed the No. 20 Kentucky Wildcats to escape with a Southeastern Conference win, 55-54, over the University of Arkansas in women’s basketball action.

Arkansas (18-9, 6-9 SEC) held a 54-53 lead with 17 seconds but a pair of turnovers gave Kentucky the ball under their hoop. Team leader A’dia Mathies slashed to the hoop and hit the winning shot with five seconds on the clock.

"It’s so disappointing," said Arkansas head coach Tom Collen. "We have lost six games in the SEC that same way in the last seconds."

Arkansas made a brilliant run to close the first half down seven, 28-21, and continued it’s great play to start the second half. The Razorbacks put together a 20-6 run taking a 45-41 lead. They hit 10-of-16 shots to start the period and held a lead until the final seconds.

"The ball came in to Mathies and she made a play," Collen said. "Great players do that. You have to give them credit for holding on at the end."

Junior C’eira Ricketts became the second player this year to eclipse the 1,000-point career mark. She led Arkansas with a game-high 17 points. Junior Lyndsay Harris added 11 and sophomore Sarah Watkins had nine. Junior Ashley Daniels scored eight points and had a season-best 13 rebounds for Arkansas.

Arkansas did just about everything right. The Razorbacks shot 46 percent and was 14-for-23 in the second half shooting 60.9 percent in the frame. The rebounded well with 37 boards and limited turnovers in the second half. Arkansas held Kentucky to its third lowest point total of the year and just 30 percent shooting in the half.

Razorbacks celebrates Senior Day Sunday hosting Alabama at 2 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.