In a game not decided until the final seconds, Auburn picked up a 4 point win over St. Joseph's 66-62. Freshmen Lauren Hansen and Annie Hughes both came up with key plays for the Tigers and senior Unique Thompson iced the game with two free throws with 7 seconds to play. Hansen led three players for the Tigers in double digits with 18 points. Thompson recorded another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds and also added 5 assists. Sophomore Kiyae' White finished with 12 points. It was a back and forth game with neither team leading by more than 6 points. Free throws were a key for the Tigers as Auburn made 21 compared to the Hawks' 10. The Auburn defense was much improved compared to the first three games as they forced 14 turnovers, which they turned into 17 points. Auburn limited St. Joseph's to 44% shooting from the field, including a 27% mark from three. Auburn struggled to shoot the ball from the field as they finished with a 36% clip. The win improves the Tigers to 2-2 on the year.
Here is a quarter-by-quarter look at how the game unfolded for the Lady Tigers:
1st Quarter:
Auburn built a 4 point lead, 10-6, against the Hawks. However, St. Joseph's would quickly answer with a pair of 6-0 runs sandwiched around an Auburn basket. Auburn did score the final 3 points of the period as the final score at the end of the first quarter was 18-15 in the Hawks favor. Unique Thompson led the Tigers with 7 points in the first. Meanwhile, Brooke Moore had 3 rebounds and 2 assists.
2nd Quarter:
Auburn continued their momentum from the end of the 1st by scoring the first 8 points of the 2nd. In total, it was an 11-0 run spanning the end of the 1st and the start of the 2nd, which put Auburn up 5, 23-18. St. Joseph's first field goal of the 2nd quarter came at the 6:21 mark. The final 6 minutes of the half was back and forth and Auburn went into the locker room up 32-29. Brooke Hansen heated up in the 2nd scoring 11 points in the frame, including hitting three 3's.
3rd Quarter:
St. Joseph's outscored the Tigers 17-13 in the 3rd to head to the 4th up 46-45. Neither team was able to create much separation in the quarter. Hansen made her fourth 3 of the night and finished the quarter with a team high 14 points.
4th Quarter:
Auburn was able to build a 6 point advantage at 64-58. However, the Hawks scored the next 4 points on free throws. After St. Joseph's got the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead, freshman Annie Hughes came up with her biggest play of the night. Hughes forced a Hawks turnover by forcing Claire Melia into a travel with 12 seconds to play. Auburn inbounded to Hansen, but was forced into a timeout to avoid a tie-up. The next pass went to Thompson who, after being fouled, calmly iced the game by making both free throws.
Auburn is back in action on Friday at 10 a.m. against Middle Tennessee. The game is part of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
