AUBURN, Ala — The Auburn Tigers (12-13, 3-9) play the Vanderbilt Commodores (18-7, 5-6) this Presidents Day weekend. While the Tigers are playing for their fourth SEC conference win, the Commodores are playing for their conference win in February, having not won a game since the end of January.
Auburn and Vanderbilt are very similar teams offensively and defensively, as both average similar numbers of steals, blocks, rebounds, and three-point shooting percentage per game. The real difference between the teams is their efficiency, where the Tigers average 68.7 points per game, and the Commodores average 84.2 points per game.
Thus far Auburn has been able to hold opponents to an average of 63.2 points per game, they will need a strong performance on both sides of the ball as Vanderbilt has held their opponents to an average of 66.2 points per game.
The Tigers need a strong defensive game to hold the Commodores to fewer points than their season average and that starts with holding Vanderbilts leading scorers Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre to less than 20 points each. Blakes and Pierre have been averaging 21.8 and 21.3 points per game respectively, and for a win, the Tigers need to hold Blakes and Pierre to way less than their season average.
Additionally, the Tigers have been averaging 9.0 steals per game, and Mar’shaun Bostic averages 2.2 steals per game for the Tigers. Auburn can slow down and disrupt their opponent’s offense, so if Bostic has an especially strong game, she could be a key piece of the puzzle that propels the Tigers to victory.
On the offensive side of the ball for Auburn DeYona Gaston and Taliah Scott are going to have to keep up their impressive performance so far this season, with Gaston and Scott averaging 22.0 and 20.3 points per game respectively. One of Yuting Deng, Taylen Collins, or Celia Sumbane needs a breakout night, especially if the Commodores go on a scoring run.
The Tigers are looking to keep their three-game home winning streak alive as Auburn v. Vanderbilt will take place this Sunday inside Neville Arena at 3:00 p.m. CST on the Auburn Sports Network SEC network.
