Just like the first game that was played at Auburn Arena, the Tigers' second act of the season against the Tide was action-packed on both ends of the floor.
There were 18 lead changes throughout the game, as both teams tried to manage momentum. Ultimately, behind Alabama’s exceptional free throw shooting, the Crimson Tide beat the Tigers 70-60.
Daisa Alexander scored 21 points for the Tigers, hitting a career-high five 3-pointers for the game and Unique Thompson contributed 15 points and four rebounds. Even though the Tigers out-shot the Crimson Tide, Alabama made 25 free throws in 28 attempts, while also getting 15 more rebounds.
“That’s the game right there, rebounding and putting them on the free-throw line 28 times,” Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. “There’s nothing else you can even look at on the stat sheet, except for free-throw attempts and offensive rebounds. We didn’t rebound, and we were out of rhythm all night offensively.”
Auburn came out in the first quarter extremely efficient on defense, holding the Tide to just one first-quarter field goal. However, Alabama started the second on a 13-0 run, extending a double-digit lead over the Tigers.
The Tigers bounced back, causing a momentum shift with a 15-4 run of their own, leading the Crimson Tide 30-29 going into halftime.
The third quarter was where most of the lead changes came from. Continued foul trouble plagued the Tigers, putting key players on the bench and giving Alabama easy points from the line.
Alabama, extending their pressure, went on a 10-0 run late into the third quarter to take a 62-53 lead over the Tigers. The lead would be too much to handle for the Tigers for the remainder of the game.
The Crimson Tide had four players in double figures with Ashley Williams leading the team with 17 points and 10 rebounds, notching a double-double for the night.
The Tigers have had an up-and-down stretch in the February with a 2-4 record for the month. Auburn is now 13-13 overall and 4-10 in the conference.
Auburn will travel to Starkville, Mississippi to play Mississippi State in its last road game of the regular season on Thursday, Feb. 22.
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