AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's Unique Thompson scored a game-high 20 points, but a 3-point barrage in the first half by No. 19 Kentucky was the difference in a 78-68 loss Thursday night at Auburn Arena.
The Tigers (17-6, 5-5 SEC) led in most statistical categories and were able to control the paint most of the night, but the Wildcats (19-5, 6-4) hit their first eight 3-point attempts and used a 14-0 run in the second quarter to build a lead Auburn could not overcome.
"I can never fault my team's effort," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "But if we defend the 3-point line tonight, we definitely give ourselves a much better opportunity to win this basketball game.
"We were playing our twin. Their defense was our defense. It was a matter of who was going to take care of the ball the most, and who could score the most. They had 17 turnovers. We had 15 turnovers. We had more steals. If you look at the [defensive] stats [in the SEC], it's like Kentucky No. 1, Auburn No. 2, or Auburn No. 1, Kentucky No. 2. We're both very good defensive teams. They won at the 3-point line. You take away the 3-point shot, we win the basketball game, because we were ahead in every other category."
Auburn shot 42.3 percent from the field and out-rebounded Kentucky 29-27. It was the first time this season that Auburn fell when out-rebounding its opponent. The Tigers also scored 22 points off 17 Kentucky turnovers and controlled the inside game, scoring 36 points in the paint. Auburn also took advantage of free-throw opportunities, hitting 22-of-29 attempts at the line.
Thompson's 20 points led all scorers; she also led Auburn with six rebounds. Janiah McKay added 14 points, and Crystal Primm scored 11 and led the Tigers with six steals and five assists. Robyn Benton added eight points off the bench.
After a mostly even first quarter that saw Kentucky take a 22-18 lead, Auburn scored first in the second quarter to cut the lead to two with 8:44 left. But over the next three-plus minutes, the Wildcats forced three Auburn turnovers and hit a pair of 3s as part of a 14-0 run to give Kentucky a 36-20 lead. The Wildcats would finally miss on their ninth 3-point attempt of the night but took a 42-28 lead to the half.
Kentucky extended its lead to as much as 16 at 66-50 with 8:39 to play. Auburn would get as close as nine points midway through the quarter but could pull no closer.
Rhyne Howard led Kentucky with 19 points and Taylor Murray added 17 along with six steals.
The Tigers will hit the road for their next two games, beginning with a trip to Fayetteville, Ark., on Sunday to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks. Game time is 1 p.m. CT at Bud Walton Arena with the broadcast on SEC Network and WTGZ 93.9 FM.