LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mar’Shaun Bostic scored a season-high 18 points, but Auburn was unable to overcome a hot-shooting No. 15 Kentucky team in a 80-61 loss Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.
Bostic matched her career-high in an SEC game, equaling the 18-point output she had at Florida last season. She also added seven assists, three steals and four rebounds.
“She’s been working at it,” Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. “She’s been coming in, watching film, asking questions. I was happy to see that pay off for her. But she’ll trade all of it to get a win.”
DeYona Gaston overcame early foul trouble to post a 23-point night along with seven rebounds. Celia Sumbane matched a season-high with eight rebounds.
Kentucky’s outside shooting and transition offense proved to be the difference as the Wildcats knocked down seven 3-pointers and scored 18 fast-break points. For the game, UK shot 53.6 percent (30-56) while the Tigers were at 34.8 percent (24-69), a season-low.
“Their 3-point shooting (was the difference),” Harris said. “We’ve got to limit those 3-point shots, turn those 3s into 2s and you’re a little bit closer.”
Auburn out-rebounded the Wildcats 38-32 and outscored them in the paint 42-40. The Tigers also got 19 second-chance points off 17 offensive rebounds.
Trailing 36-25 at the half, a 12-2 Auburn run midway through the third quarter cut a 16-point deficit down to six, with an Audia Young jumper making it 45-39 with 4:15 to go in the period. But Kentucky answered with back-to-back 3-pointers, pushing the advantage back to double digits for good.
Auburn fought foul trouble with three starters on the bench for much of the second quarter, and Kentucky took advantage, outscoring the Tigers 20-14 to extend their lead to 36-25 at the half.
Bostic had her season-high by halftime with a 14-point first half, drawing contact on drives to the basket and knocking down six free throws to go along with four made layups on four attempts.
Georgia Amoore and Dazia Lawrence each scored 21 points to lead Kentucky (15-1, 4-0); Amoore added 11 assists.
Auburn (9-8, 0-4) plays its fourth ranked opponent in five games when No. 5 Texas makes its first visit to Neville Arena Thursday night. Game time is 6 p.m. CT.