LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Seimone Augustus scored 23 points as No. 3 LSU routed Kentucky 66-36 on Sunday, the Tigers’ second straight road win over an unbeaten opponent.
LSU (7-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) held an opponent to 41 points or less for the third time this season.
Kentucky’s (8-1, 0-1 SEC) 8-0 start was its first since the 1980-81 season, and the Wildcats entered with hopes of springing an upset over a Louisiana State team that reached last season’s Final Four.
But LSU dominated inside with the 6-foot-1 Augustus and 6-foot-6 Sylvia Fowles, who had seven points and 12 rebounds. Led by Augustus’ 11-for-20 effort, the Tigers shot 50 percent from the field and scored 29 points off 20 Kentucky turnovers.
LSU’s romp over Kentucky followed a 64-48 win at No. 4 Ohio State three days earlier.
Kentucky shot just 29.2 percent from the field. Only freshman point guard Carly Ormerod, who went 4-of-4 from 3-point range and scored 14 points, gave the Wildcats any offensive boost.
LSU matched its record for fewest points allowed against a SEC opponent. The Tigers held South Carolina to 36 points last season.
Kentucky hit two of its first three field-goal attempts and led 4-1 at the 17:17 mark, but made only one of their next 15 shots over 12 minutes as LSU built a 21-7 lead. The Tigers led 28-17 at halftime.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Ormerod brought Kentucky within 30-25 with 17:51 left and prompted LSU coach Pokey Chatman to call a timeout. The Tigers responded by scoring the next nine points and extending their lead to 54-29 with 9 minutes left.
Kentucky came no closer than 22 points the rest of the way.