Kennedy Smith stepped into the void left by injured star JuJu Watkins, scoring 19 points to help Southern California hold off Kansas State 67-61 in the Sweet 16 of the women’s NCAA Tournament on Satur

Kansas State was reeling in the absence of star center Ayoka Lee, having lost three of its last four games heading into the NCAA Tournament. Her return went as well as the Wildcats could've hoped.

BOTTOM LINE: No. 13 Kentucky takes on No. 19 Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Kentucky Wildcats are 11-6 against SEC opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. Kentucky is fourth in the SEC with 16.7 assists per game led by Georgia Amoore averaging 6.9.

Kansas State has one more chance to make the NCAA ... That's kind of all we're talking to the guys about." The Wildcats showed signs of life in late January and February with a six-game winning ...

BOTTOM LINE: No. 13 Kentucky and No. 19 Kansas State square off in the NCAA Tournament second round. The Kentucky Wildcats are 11-6 against SEC opponents and 12-1 in non-conference play. Kentucky scores 75.8 points while outscoring opponents by 13.0 points per game.

Head coach Jerome Tang of the Kansas State Wildcats reacts in the first half ... The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial ...

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Women's NCAA tournament matchup between the USC Trojans and Kansas State Wildcats on Saturday, March 29.