Kansas State’s Temira Poindexter (left) and Jaelyn Glenn hit big 3-pointers in the closing minute of their matchup against Kentucky, leading their team to a second-round NCAA tournament victory at Rupp Arena in Lexington. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

In what might have been the best game of the NCAA women’s tournament opening weekend, Kansas State defeated Kentucky in overtime on its home floor at Rupp Arena, 80-79. The battle of Wildcats — Kansas St. a No. 4 seed, Kentucky a No. 5 — was certainly the most competitive contest of the first two rounds.

The shot-making in the fourth quarter and overtime from both teams was exceptional with both teams knocking down huge 3-pointers and trading the lead. Temira Poindexter‘s 3-pointer with 56 seconds remaining in overtime provided the final margin of victory. Kansas State advances to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2002.

Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore and Amelia Hassett each missed 3-point tries in the closing 16 seconds, but got offensive rebounds on both misses. Amoore had one more opportunity to win the game, but her short baseline jump shot with two seconds left rimmed out. It was a heartbreaking end for the senior guard in front of her home fans.

Poindexter scored 24 for K-State, all of her points coming on 3s. She shot 8-of-15 from behind the arc. Serena Sundell followed with 19 points and 14 assists, shooting 3-of-4 on 3s. Ayoka Lee scored the tough points inside, bulling her way to 16 points and nine rebounds.

Clara Strack led Kentucky with 22 points and eight rebounds, but the home team likely would not have been in position to win or gone to overtime without Amoore coming alive in the second half. Kentucky’s leading scorer during the regular season (averaging 19.4 points per game) finished with 18 points after only getting five in the first half. She also dished out six assists.

The Lexington Wildcats held a narrow lead over K-State late into the second quarter, but couldn’t pull away from their opponent. Kansas State finally broke through just before halftime on two consecutive 3s from Poindexter, followed by Kennedy Taylor drawing two fouls and hitting four free throws to give the Wildcats from Manhattan the lead going into the locker room.

The teams went back and forth in a thrilling third quarter. Just as Lee would assert herself with shots in the paint, Kentucky would answer on their end. The Wildcats of Lexington appeared to take control with an 8-0 run that gave them a 66-61 lead with two minutes left in regulation. Ultimately, it came down to which team could knock down outside shots, and Poindexter emerged as the victor there.

Up next for Kansas State in the Spokane 4 region is the winner of Monday night’s Mississippi State-USC matchup.