AUBURN, Ala. – A nine game losing streak against the Tide came to a dramatic end in Neville Arena, as Auburn took care of Alabama 78-65. The Tigers beat their neighbors to the north for the first time since March 7th, 2019.
The action started well before tip, as Auburn legend DeWanna Bonner had her number 24 jersey retired. As her number was revealed up in the rafters, she only had one thing on her mind.
“Enough of this speech,” said Bonner. “I’m ready to play the game.”
With the excitement still fresh from the retirement ceremony, the Tigers rode the crowd to a quick 10-0 run. They would end the first quarter with a stellar 64.3% field goal percentage and a big 22-6 lead.
“Our team was focused and I felt like they were locked in,” said Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris. “I was really pleased with our offensive execution early in the ballgame.”
A large reason for the Tigers early success was graduate guard Honesty Scott-Grayson. Scott-Grayson was perfect from the field in the first quarter, and would finish the game with 19 points as Auburn’s leading scorer.
Having not gotten the best of the Tide in her previous four years on the Plains, it meant that much more to have finally gotten the breakthrough win with an electric crowd behind her.
“It feels good for us,” said Scott-Grayson on the large crowd. “It’s something we haven’t seen in a long time, so we take that all in and appreciate it.”
The outcome of the game was not always certain, as a huge run from Alabama in the third quarter saw the Tigers give up the lead for the first time in the contest.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” said Harris. “We had to be able to withstand that run. We had to be able to make an adjustment and throw something different at them. I called for a press and we got a couple of steals. We went on a 9-0 run and I thought that was the difference in the ball game.”
At a time when it was needed the most, Auburn did what they do best. Two defensive takeaways leading to fast-break layups sealed the deal for the Tigers in a win that won’t be soon forgotten.
The win gives the Tigers their second win in SEC play, moving them up in the standings. Next on the schedule for Auburn is a very winnable game at home against Georgia. The Bulldogs are one of two teams to only have one SEC victory.
After a week off, the Tigers will match up against the Bulldogs on January 29th in Neville Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT with coverage on the Auburn Sports Network and the SEC Network.
