Auburn women’s basketball remains perfect after a second quarter serge propelled the team over Rutgers Sunday.
Even when down by 13 points in the first quarter the Tigers (3-0) never gave in against Rutgers (2-1), ultimately putting together a 34-5 run in route to a 76-56 win.
“This team is so connected, they have great chemistry,” Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. “They’re going to continue to get better and better. They trust us. We’re able to make adjustments, they buy into it, and they put it into play.”
Savannah Scott led the way once again for the Tigers with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The freshman has been able to do it all early on from the center role, which was on full display, recording 11 rebounds for her first career double-double.
“For the second game in a row, I put the ball in Honesty’s hands, and she found Scotty,” Harris said. “Scotty was a beast today, that baby grew up today. Honesty put us on her back, and she carried us. I thought Celia at the top of that zone was a big key for us, she controlled things for us up there.”
The second quarter turnaround proved to be nothing short of impressive. After the Scarlet Knights made the first basket of the quarter, Auburn would go on to outscore their opponent 27-3 in the last nine minutes of the half.
Honesty Scott-Grayson led the way in the comeback, logging nine points in the second quarter. The New Jersey native was surrounded by family and friends who cheered her own throughout the matchup, but most notably in was the bench who made a lasting impression for Scott-Grayson.
“This team loves Honesty,” Harris said. “They support her, they have her back. They knew she was coming to her hometown. You should have heard them over on the bench, they were loud, they were proud. They were proud of this entire team. Our bench energy was great tonight.”
Turnovers played a huge part in Auburn’s win. The Tigers forced the Scarlet Knights to turn the ball over 24 times in the contest, 10 of which came in that crucial second quarter. Celia Sumbane played a pivotal role in the defense, grabbing three steals to go along with a pair of blocks.
Sydney Shaw broke the double-digit mark for the second straight game, finishing with 10 points. The sophomore showed poise throughout the contest when shots were not falling. The patience ultimately paid off as Shaw was able to nail a 3-pointer at the final buzzer in first half to cap off the terrific run by the Tigers.
Auburn will be back in action at Neville Arena this Friday against California. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with broadcasting on the SECN+ and Auburn Sports Network.
