Jordan Obi had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Tonie Morgan added 13 points. Clara Strack had nine points and 15 rebounds for the Cats.
Tennessee scored the first four points of the game before Strack got UK on the board with a layup. A Morgan free throw made it 4-3. The Lady Vols scored the next four before Obi broke free for a layup to cut the deficit to 8-5.
Obi scored again to get the Cats within one, but Tennessee hit a three and the Lady Vols led 11-7 after one quarter. Kentucky made just three of 14 (21.4 percent) from the floor in the first period, while UT hit 4 of 16 (25 percent).
In the second quarter, Asia Boone hit a three-pointer to get the UK within one. UT responded with a basket to make it 13-10. Morgan drove to the basket and scored, then Hassett hit a three to give UK a 15-13 lead. However, the Lady Vols scored the next six to lead by four.
A Strack basket cut the deficit in half, but the Lady Vols hit a free throw and a three to lead 23-17. After an Obi free throw, UT scored four straight to lead 27-18. Obi scored again to get UK within seven before two Tennessee free throws. Morgan scored late in the half, but Kentucky trailed 29-22 at the half.
Kentucky scored first in the third quarter, with Obi making a free throw, Strack making two and Hassett making one to get the Cats within three. Tennessee would score the next seven to lead 36-26.
An Obi basket and a Hassett three cut the deficit to five, 36-31. Strack made a free throw to get the Cats within four, but the Lady Vols scored to lead 38-32. Two Strack free throws and two more from Obi got UK within two. After a Tennessee three, Morgan made a free throw and Hassett hit a three to get the Cats within one. UT would lead 41-40 after three quarters.
Tennessee scored the first five points of the final stanza, but Hassett hit a three, then scored on a putback and made a subsequent free throw to tie the game at 46-46. After a UT basket, Morgan hit a three and UK led 49-48. Tennessee would take the lead right back before Morgan scored again, giving the Cats a 51-50 lead.
After the Lady Vols scored four in a row, Boone made three free throws to tie the game at 54-54. Tennessee scored five straight before Obi and Morgan converted layups to get UK within one, 59-58. After getting a stop on defense, Kentucky got an open three from Strack with 19 seconds remaining, but the shot rimmed out.
Tennessee missed two free throws, giving UK the final possession. But the Cats were unable to get a shot away.
Kentucky returns to action on Sunday, hosting Georgia at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Tipoff is set for noon ET and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.