Edwards' 3-Pointer Leads Cats To SEC Tournament Title, Stunning No. 1 USC

Kentucky is the 2022 SEC Women's Tournament champion. (SEC Media Photo)

NASHVILLE – Dre'una Edwards hit a three-pointer with 4.2 seconds remaining, lifting Kentucky past No. 1 South Carolina 64-62 on Sunday in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament.

Kentucky claimed just its second SEC Tournament title in school history. The Cats last won the postseason event in 1982.

Dre'una Edwards of Kentucky hits a game-winning shot in the SEC Tournament championship game, beating top-ranked South Carolina 64-62 Sunday. (SEC Media Photo)

Edwards' three capped an 11-0 run that helped UK overcome a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit to win. Kentucky scored 14 of the last 16 points in the game to win.

Edwards led the Cats in scoring with 27 points, 19 of which came in the second half. For the game, she made 11 of 21 from the field, including three of five from behind the arc, and both of her free throws. She added nine rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot.

Kentucky (19-11), which won for the 10th straight game, also got 18 points from All-American Rhyne Howard. The senior also had four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Fast forward to the fourth period, the Cats would continue to chip away at the South Carolina lead. A Robyn Benton three cut it to 60-53. Then, after a Boston jumper, the Cats got a layup from Hunt, another from Howard and another from Edwards to make it 62-59 with 1:50 to play.

Kentucky got within one on another Edwards layup, this one with 1:13 to play. After a defensive stop, the Cats got possession with 43.9 seconds remaining. But South Carolina forced a turnover and took over with 18.3 seconds left.

UK fouled South Carolina's Zia Cooke with 16 seconds left and she missed both free throws. Kentucky called timeout with 11 seconds to go, setting up the final play where Edwards would hit the three from the top of the key to give the Cats a 64-62 lead.

Kentucky coach Kyra Elzy celebrates after her team's SEC Tournament championship Sunday. (SEC Media Photo)

South Carolina (29-2) had no timeouts remaining, so the Gamecocks could only muster a half-court heave at the buzzer, that missed, on their final possession.

Kentucky will next play in the NCAA Tournament, with the opponent and location to be determined. The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Selection Show will be next Sunday, March 13.