AUBURN, Ala. – Honesty Scott-Grayson led Auburn with 18 points and nine rebounds, but California claimed an early lead and never trailed again to win 67-53 Friday in a battle of unbeatens at Neville Arena, the Tigers' first defeat after starting the season with three straight victories.
"A lack of toughness and attention to detail," Auburn coach Johnnie Harris said. "They played off of us and forced us to make shots and we were very uncomfortable in that situation."
Trailing by a dozen after three quarters, Mar'Shaun Bostic's steal and layup cut the Bears' lead to 10 to start the fourth quarter but Auburn would get no closer.
"We had to be tough and find a way to come back," said Bostic, who scored six points. "I was trying to pick my team up and figure out a way to get us back in the game."
Auburn outscored Cal 29-2 in bench points but a trio of Bears starters produced at a high enough level to negate the Tigers' depth advantage.
Marta Suarez hit 5 of 9 3-pointers, scored 27 points and added seven rebounds, Michelle Onyiah grabbed 19 rebounds, and Cal point guard Leilani McIntosh contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Sydney Shaw's 3-pointer cut the Bears' lead to 10 points with 6:37 to play but Suarez knocked down an open 3-pointer and McIntosh followed with a layup that put Cal ahead 63-48.
Kaitlyn Duhon scored nine points in 15 minutes on 4-of-5 shooting and JaMya Mingo-Young had five assists and zero turnovers in her Auburn debut to add to the Tigers' bench production.
"I thought she came in and battled and gave us everything she had," Harris said of Mingo-Young, who missed Auburn's first three games while recovering from a knee injury.
McKenna Eddings got Auburn off to a quick start with a steal and a 3-pointer, but Cal scored the next 10 points in a run that featured back-to-back 3-pointers.
Scott-Grayson came off the bench and made consecutive jump shots during a stretch of four straight Auburn makes that helped the Tigers trim Cal's lead to 14-11 after the first quarter.
"Honesty had been under the weather," Harris said of the decision to not start Scott-Grayson, who missed practice leading up to the game. "It was a game-time decision whether she was going to play. She had that same determination in her eye that she had in the last ballgame. She tried to put us on her back as much as she could. That kid was really tough tonight. You see how special she is."
Duhon went 3 for 3 to contribute to Auburn's 12-2 advantage in bench points in the first half.
"I always tell Duhon to get your shot from your spot," Harris said. "She does a good job. She's a spark off the bench."
Cal (4-0) used a 9-0 run to take a double-digit lead while Auburn missed nine straight shots during a six-minute drought that led to the Bears outscoring the Tigers 19-10 in the second quarter.
Trailing by 14, Taylen Collins grabbed an offensive rebound and beat the buzzer with a putback that pulled Auburn within a dozen at the half at 33-21.
After not attempting a free throw in the first half, the Tigers finally got to the line midway through the third quarter, making 6 of 9 in the period.
Scott-Grayson scored 13 points in the third quarter, hitting a 3-pointer and a reverse layup to pull the Tigers within nine but Cal drew a foul on a 3-pointer and hit all three free throws to lead 52-40 heading to the fourth quarter.
Auburn (3-1) travels to Orlando, Florida, to play UCF Monday at 6 p.m. CT.
"We'll be ready," Harris said.
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Scott-Grayson's big night not enough as Auburn falls to Cal
