AUBURN, Ala. – SEC leading scorer Izzy Higginbottom scored 36 points and hit a game-winning free throw with 2.4 seconds remaining to lead Arkansas to a 59-58 victory over Auburn Thursday at Neville Arena.
“We guarded well enough, we’ve got to hit shots,” Auburn coach Johnnie Harris said. “They gave us every shot, we just didn’t knock them down.”
The Tigers’ chance for a buzzer-beater ended when Arkansas blocked Mar’shaun Bostic’s shot in the paint as time expired.
“We were trying to get it to D (DeYona Gaston),” Bostic said. “I tried to be a team leader and get something because I knew there were 2.4 left.”
Taylen Collins hit a baseline jumper with 55 seconds remaining to tie the score at 56-56. Higginbottom scored in the paint to put the Razorbacks ahead by two before Gaston answered for Auburn with a game-tying layup with 28 seconds to play.
Auburn was called for a foul when Higginbottom went to the floor while receiving a baseline inbounds pass, sending her to the line for the decisive point.
“I thought Mar’shaun did a great job, walled her up,” Harris said.
Gaston led three Tigers in double figures with 16 points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Celia Sumbane scored 12 points and added seven rebounds. Bostic added 10 points and a game-high five assists.
Leading 33-30 at the half, Auburn struggled with turnovers in the third quarter, committing 11 while scoring only seven points. The Tigers forced seven turnovers of their own in the quarter, holding the Razorbacks to 10 points to head to the fourth quarter tied 40-40.
Bostic’s steal and layup gave Auburn a 45-41 lead with 7:25 to play but Higginbottom scored the Razobracks’ next 10 points, giving Arkansas its first lead with a 3-point play with 5:58 remaining.
“I tried to give my best when guarding (Higginbottom),” said Bostic, who was plus-17, made four steals and helped force seven Higginbottom turnovers. “She definitely made me a better defender today.”
Oyindamola Akinbolawa ended Higginbottom’s 7-0 run with a layup that pulled Auburn within three points at the 4:37 mark.
Akinbolawa made another free throw with 2:28 to play but her second shot was nullified by a lane violation, preserving Arkansas’ 53-52 lead, and the Razorbacks responded with a 3-pointer to lead by four before Auburn rallied.
Auburn scored 10 points off turnovers in the first quarter while taking a 13-point lead. Bostic made a steal and layup to put Auburn ahead 6-0.
“In the first quarter we had a lot of energy,” Harris said. “We were pushing the pace.”
The Tigers made five consecutive shots and led 10-0 after Bostic’s pass to Sumbane for a layup.
Sumbane and Gaston each scored six points in the quarter to help Auburn lead 21-8 after the opening period.
Higginbottom singlehandedly outscored Auburn in the second quarter, exploding for 18 points on 6-for-6 shooting including a pair of 3-pointers, the latter coming with one second left in the half to cut Auburn’s lead to three.
“Higginbottom took us to the hole,” Harris said. “She’s a really good player. We either bailed her out with a foul or she made some tough shots.”
Auburn (9-7, 0-3) returns to the road to face its third ranked conference opponent Sunday at No. 15 Kentucky at 2 p.m. CT at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington on SEC Network and the Auburn Sports Network.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer