AUBURN, Ala. (WEGL) – Despite the recent rough stretch from Auburn women’s basketball (11-10) to start off SEC play, the Tigers were able to dispatch Florida (11-10) at Neville arena Sunday, 74-51. Auburn got much needed production on both sides of the floor, as they ran the Gators back to Gainesville. The win was never in doubt as the Tigers were in full control for almost all of the forty minutes.
Auburn’s defense was the catalyst for Coach Johnnie Harris’s team early in the game as they sprung out to an early lead. The Tigers held Florida to a lousy 20 percent from the field in the first quarter and set the tone defensively. On the other end, Auburn’s leading scorer, Deyona Gaston, had two early buckets while recent addition Yuting Deng hit both of her attempts from the field, one being from beyond the arc. These two combined for 9 points as four other Tigers added a basket as well, allowing Auburn to take a 17-10 advantage into the first stoppage.
The second quarter was where Auburn really put the Gators in the rearview as the offense found its groove. Deyona Gaston had another couple baskets while Celia Sumbane and Mar’shaun Bostic combined for 13 in an explosive 24 point quarter for the Tigers. The defense was not a problem either, Auburn forced eight Florida turnovers in the second and 16 in the first half, holding Florida to just 21 points as Auburn led into the break 41-21.
The third quarter marked the only of the four frames in which Florida outscored Auburn. The Gators shot 50 percent from the field in the quarter, with Laila Reynolds leading the Florida charge with eight in the third. Deyona Gaston matched the eight points for Auburn, keeping the Tiger lead comfortable as the teams went into the final stage, 56-39.
Auburn did not score in the final two minutes of the matchup, but it did not matter as Yuting Deng knocked in two threes and had 8 points in the quarter with Celia Sumbane having a couple buckets herself as Auburn shut down Florida for the 74-51 victory. Auburn also held Florida to just 33.3 percent in the final frame to close out the win.
Auburn was led by Deyona Gaston with 18 points on 9-17 shooting. Yuting Deng knocked four from beyond and had a career high 16 points herself. When Coach Johnnie Harris was asked about Deng, she said “She’s a player with high IQ. She studies the game and the scouting report. She’s a competitor. She wants to help this team win.” Celia Sumbane added 12 for the Tigers. Mar’shaun Bostic had 9 points while also having a career night with 11 assists. When Bostic was asked about her career performance, she stated that “This started in practice a couple days ago. My teammates and coaches encouraged me. When something good happens to me, it boosts my confidence so I want to carry that for the next game.”
The Tigers locked their second SEC win on the year as they continue to play without standout Taliah Scott, who was averaging 20 points in her three games played this season but has since been injured. The Tigers are still showing some resilience without one of their stars as they trek through a tough SEC slate.
The Auburn women take the court again a week from today on Sunday, February 2nd as they travel to South Carolina to take on a Gamecocks team that is currently ranked 2nd nationally in the most recent AP poll. It will be a real test for an Auburn team searching for a big win and an upset. The game is at 11 a.m. CT and will be live on SEC Network or you can listen to it live on the Auburn Sports Network.
