Auburn women’s basketball opened up their 2018-19 season with a match-up against the Grambling State Tigers at home in Auburn Arena. The dominating offensive performance led to the teams highest point total in almost two years.
To start the game, Grambling State opened on a 4-0 run until senior Emari Jones drilled a three from the right wing with 8:13 left in the first quarter. Auburn utilized a full court press the remainder of the quarter and forced five turnovers. Behind six points from Emari Jones, Auburn led 26-15 after the first quarter of the 2018 season.
The first five minutes of the second quarter were sloppy with Auburn committing four turnovers and Grambling turning it over once and committing three fouls. Only six points were scored by each team during the first six minutes of the second period.
Unique Thompson made a layup with 3:23 left in the quarter and Auburn began applying pressure again. This pressure forced Grambling State into two turnovers and led Auburn to a 12-0 run over the last 3:23 of the half. This gave Auburn a 44-20 lead heading into the locker room.
Unique Thompson was the leading points scorer and rebounder at the half with 10 points and six rebounds. Crystal Primm, the transfer from Duke, made her first impact as an Auburn Tiger after sitting out the 2017-18 season scoring seven points in the first half. Auburn also forced Grambling State into early foul trouble with Grambling State committing 12 fouls.
Auburn opened the second half hot hitting four consecutive shots to extend their lead to 30 until a turnover ended the momentum. Auburn shot 56 percent from the field and 30 percent from the three-point line in the third quarter to expand their point total to 68. Auburn did not allow Grambling State to score for the final 3:48 of the third quarter.
Junior Daisa Alexander opened the fourth quarter scoring up with five points in the first two minutes of the quarter. Auburn continued to assert their dominance in the paint with seven offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Auburn ultimately won in dominating fashion by a margin of 49 points. They had six players in double figures for the first time since 2008. “Ten years later, we can find some scoring,” Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. Senior Janiah McKay and freshman Robyn Benton led the way in scoring with 16 points.
This is the first time Auburn has scored 90 or more points since a 2016 overtime loss to Virginia Tech. McKay and sophomore Unique Thompson both recorded double-doubles. McKay spread the ball very well dishing out 10 assists. Thompson’s double-double came off her performance in the paint grabbing 13 rebounds including three on the offensive end. As a team, Auburn had 20 offensive rebounds which led to 28 second chance points.
The Tigers will look to continue the fast start to the season as they head into the Preseason Women’s NIT tournament on Friday night at home against Nichols State.
