AUBURN, Ala. – A combined 49 points from Unique Thompson and Honesty Scott-Grayson were part of Auburn's best offensive night of SEC play, but Alabama's outside game was too much in a 92-78 Auburn loss Sunday at Auburn Arena.
The Tigers shot 50.8 percent from the field and had a season-low seven turnovers, but Alabama – led by 41 points from senior Jasmine Walker – hit 15 3-pointers and controlled the glass to earn its second win over Auburn this season.
"It's very hard to win a basketball game giving up 92 points," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said, "and let the other team shoot 15-for-28 from the 3-point line. You're just not going to win basketball games doing that. Our defense has got to get better.
"I thought a lot of times our rotations were slow. If there's anybody you're going to guard, it's going to be No. 40 (Walker). There's no reason we should have been giving her wide-open 3s."
Scott-Grayson led Auburn with 25 points, giving her a combined 55 points in her last two home games after a 30-point effort against Missouri last Sunday. Thompson added 24 points on 12-of-18 shooting, along with a team-high six rebounds.
With 1,109 rebounds in her career, Thompson now needs 10 more to set the Auburn career rebounding record. Becky Jackson holds the current mark of 1,118; the record has stood since 1984.
Freshman Aicha Coulibaly also contributed a season-high 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting; it was her second SEC game in double figures. Alaina Rice, back in the starting lineup, dished out a career-high nine assists.
Auburn hit 32 of 63 attempts from the floor (50.8%) for its best shooting night in SEC play and second-best overall this season. Alabama matched Auburn's overall percentage at 50.8 percent (30-of-59), but was 15-of-28 from 3-point range (53.6%) and out-rebounded the Tigers 40-24, a season-low in rebounds for Auburn.
Two Alabama players recorded double-doubles. Walker finished with 41 points – including 7 3-pointers - and 15 rebounds, and Ariyah Copeland had 21 points and 11 rebounds.
The Tigers continue SEC play Thursday night when they travel to Starkville, Miss., to take on Mississippi State. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT at Humphrey Coliseum with a national broadcast on SEC Network.
Strong offensive effort falls short for Auburn
Auburn's Alaina Rice (22 pink) wraps a pass around Alabama's Ariyah Copeland (22 white) in an SEC women's basketball game. Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood/Auburn Athletics)