CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands – Three Tigers scored in double figures, but Auburn was unable to hold a 12-point halftime lead in a 61-60 loss to Kansas Saturday afternoon in their final game of the Paradise Jam.
Celia Sumbane led Auburn with 16 points along with four rebounds. DeYona Gaston just missed her second straight double-double with nine points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Taylen Collins and Kaitlyn Duhon scored 10 points each, and Mar’Shaun Bostic had a game-high seven assists.
It was a tale of two halves as Auburn used its trademark defense to force nine first-half turnovers, turning those into 14 points as the Tigers built a 40-28 lead at the half. But Kansas committed just one turnover in the second half and took advantage of Auburn struggling from the field to close the gap and move ahead late in the third quarter. Kansas led 48-47 after three.
The Tigers, though, fought back and took a six-point lead at 60-54 with a minute to go on a Celia Sumbane layup. Kansas, however, kept finding a way to get to the free-throw line, and then forced a turnover that led to a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game.
Auburn had an opportunity to extend the lead but missed two free throws, and Kansas got the rebound and could hold for a final shot. The Jayhawks drew another foul with 14 seconds left, and S’Mya Nichols made two more free throws to put KU up by one. A final driving layup attempt by the Tigers just before the buzzer was off the rim, and time expired.
Auburn shot 41.4 percent for the game but missed some crucial free throws, finishing 8-of-14 at the line. Kansas was at 44.4 percent from the field and 17-of-22 at the line.
But the third quarter proved to be the difference as KU outscored Auburn 20-7 in the period. The Jayhawks hit 9-of-15 shots in the third while Auburn was just 2-of-12.
The Tigers controlled the boards, out-rebounding Kansas 37-26 and holding the Jayhawks to just three offensive rebounds.
Sumbane and Gaston were named to the all-tournament team.
Nichols led Kansas with 28 points and was 11-of-12 at the free throw line.
Auburn closes out its six-game road swing next Thursday in Charlottesville, Virginia, where the Tigers will take on Virginia in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Game time is 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET at John Paul Jones Arena with a national broadcast on ACC Network.