No. 15 Kentucky women’s basketball tops Auburn to improve to 4-0 in SEC play

The Kentucky Wildcats continued their undefeated start in Southeastern Conference play with an 80-61 defeat of Auburn on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Coliseum.

Kentucky’s first-quarter effort netted just 16 points, though the Wildcats shot nearly 50% from the field and were largely successful in navigating the Tigers’ up-close-and-personal defensive pressure. It was the Wildcats’ fewest points in the opening period through four games of league play. Graduate point guard Georgia Amoore led the way with eight points in the first 10 minutes to help UK take a five-point lead.

Despite drawing two fouls on DeYona Gaston, Auburn’s leading scorer, before the end of the first period, and two on Taylen Collins, Auburn’s second-leading scorer, in the front half of the second period, it took the Wildcats until 3:13 remained in the first half to secure its first double-digit lead. Notably, the Tigers were also without star sophomore guard Taliah Scott, who averaged 20.3 points through three games and has not played since November due to injury. However, starting point guard Mar’shaun Bostic almost singlehandedly kept the Tigers in the game, scoring 14 of Auburn’s 25 points through halftime.

Amoore and sophomore center Clara Strack combined for 23 of Kentucky’s 36 points before halftime. Junior forward Teonni Key, who had nine at the break, was the only other Wildcat with more than three points; graduate guard Dazia Lawrence (three points) and junior guard Saniah Tyler (one) were the only other Wildcats to get on the scoreboard.

Auburn was not deterred by the halftime deficit, and it strung together a 12-2 run in the third period to cut Kentucky’s lead to just six points after leading by as many as 16. The Wildcats struggled with offensive rebounding all day, and three fouls apiece for Key, Strack and junior forward Amelia Hassett before the end of the third quarter meant coach Kenny Brooks had to count on alternative lineups featuring reserves Tyler, Cassidy Rowe and Clara Silva; he also needed big-time minutes from Amoore and Lawrence, who teamed up to set Lawrence up for an 8-0 scoring run and regain a double-digit edge.

The Wildcats opened the fourth quarter with its starters on the floor, despite the foul trouble for their frontcourt trio. It didn’t take long for Kentucky to ease out to its largest lead of the contest, an 18-point advantage with five-and-a-half minutes to play. Auburn, however, wouldn’t go away, and continued to rely on its dominance on the glass to keep things closer than Kentucky might have liked. Seven consecutive points for the Wildcats in less than a minute near the end of the fourth quarter — capped off by a breakaway layup from Lawrence — secured the victory.

Amoore and Lawrence led Kentucky in scoring with 21 points apiece. Amoore also dished 11 assists and added two rebounds and one steal. Lawrence also grabbed one rebound and dished one assist. Strack finished with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, four blocks and one steal. Key added 15 points, seven rebounds, one assist and two blocks.

Gaston led Auburn in scoring with 23 points. Bostic added 18.

Next game

No. 15 Kentucky vs. Georgia

When: 2 p.m. Sunday

TV: SEC Network+ (internet only)

Radio: WLAP-AM 630

Records: Kentucky 15-1 (4-0 SEC), Georgia 9-9 (1-3)

Series: Georgia leads 41-23

Last meeting: UK won 64-50 in Greenville, S.C., on March 6, 2024, in the first round of the SEC Tournament

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