Fans wanting to get a look at this year's women's basketball team got an unpleasant surprise as junior Reneisha Hobbs took a nasty spill on the court Sunday evening.
The veteran player hurt her knee during a break-away layup while practicing in front of the crowd. She laid on the floor crying out in pain for several minutes before being calmed down and helped off the court.
It is uncertain at this time the extent of the injury to Hobbs' left knee.
Injury aside, the rest of the Season Kickoff event was centered around getting to know the new faces of the team.
Head coach Nell Fortner approached the crowd and introduced all the girls, especially the freshmen.
"There are four freshmen that have come in and worked hard, they're going to contribute a lot, and I think they have a chance to be really good," Fortner said.
The freshmen are forward/center Blanche Alverson, guard Nicolle Thomas, guard Morgan Toles and center Pascale West.
Sunday's scrimmage was kid-friendly as Aubie guided children to the inflatable and face painting area beside the court.
Tables draped with orange and blue tablecloths lined this area in preparation for the pizza dinner afterward.
The girls got the practice under way with a short inter-squad scrimmage before playing against the orange crushers.
The crushers are a select group of boys who volunteer to practice against the team.
They are found in the Student Activities Center and have to go through the same eligibility process the players do.
The game was close throughout and neither side could gain too many unanswered points against the other.
The first period ended with the girls up 26-23.
After the break, the girls had a solid run which gave them a cushion of which they never let go.
At the end of the game, the girls came away with a 47-41 win.
The young team caused many turnovers against the crushers and kept a strong pace.
The whole team sat down to sign posters for fans, some waiting as long as 30 minutes to meet with their Auburn Tigers and get autographs.
Freshman Morgan Toles was excited to have the fans come out and support the team.
"We are a totally different team than last year, and we just want to go out there and play as hard as we can and win some ball games," Toles said.
Fortner said she thought it was an excellent turn-out and was happy the crowd was pumped and made noise.
Assistant Director of Marketing Mike Hales said he felt the Season Kickoff event went as well as could be expected.
"It's just a good, free family event for people to come out to," Hales said.
He said the event was a team effort with the combined work of his office, the women's basketball staff and the director of women's basketball operations.
Senior center KeKe Carrier said the event felt like a game experience with the fans, cheerleaders and Aubie making noise.
As the only senior on the team, Carrier discussed the pressure from last season's success.
"We are trying to live up to what we left off with," Carrier said. "I feel like we are doing a good job progressing."
What they left off with was a 30-4 overall record, an SEC championship and a finish in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Two of their losses came from Vanderbilt, a team which made it to the Sweet 16 in 2009.
"You always want to out-do the season before, but it's not pressure," Fortner said. "You take a lot of pride in representing Auburn and these players work very hard and we all are just trying to do our best."
Fortner said her goals for the team this season were to compete hard and win every game it plays, and then everything else would take care of itself.
The open scrimmage gave the team a chance to look at some weaknesses before the regular season. Fortner said she thinks the biggest weakness will be depth.
"We have limited numbers, but those numbers are very talented," Fortner said. "We've got 10 players on the roster and it limits some of the things that you can do."
Toles said because the team is so young, a big factor would be getting more comfortable with each other and dealing with some of the insecurities that come along with being new.
The team begins its regular season with an exhibition game at home against Georgia State College and University Nov. 8 at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
The regular season gets under way Nov. 13 against in-state rival Troy.
Both Carrier and Toles said they are excited to get the season started and Carrier wants to live up to what the team did last year.
"Anytime you have a year like they did last year, it's hard to top that, not to mention the number of seniors they lost," Hales said. "I think they're ready to prove they can still play at that level."
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