The Florida Gators eliminated the Auburn Tigers women's basketball team from the SEC Tournament with a score of 70-60 in Nashville Thursday. Auburn finishes its season with a 13-17 overall record and 5-7 in the SEC. Florida now stands at 19-11 overall and advances to the quarterfinals to play the top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats at noon Friday.
Auburn freshman guard Hasina Muhammad scored a career high 20 points in the game, along with bringing in nine rebounds and blocking four shots.
"I thought this team played extremely hard today and did everything they could to give us a chance to win," said Auburn coach Nell Fortner. "I'm just so proud of their effort, their determination down the stretch. I really thought we had a shot all the way until about 28 seconds."
Auburn cut the lead to nine at halftime with a three-point buzzer-beater by sophomore guard Tyrese Tanner, who finished with 10 points.
A 61-53 Florida lead late in the contest was the closest Auburn would come to catching the Gators. Florida was led in scoring by Jordan Jones and Jennifer George, who combined for 29 total points. The Gators were able to turn 13 Auburn turnovers into 20 points.
As Fortner departs from the team, so do Auburn seniors Chantel Hilliard, forward, and guards Jordan Jenkins and Parrisha Simmons. In their final games as Tigers, Hilliard scored two points and had five rebounds. Jennings had two points and four rebounds. Simmons finished with six rebounds.
"Overall I'm most proud of everything that Auburn has meant to me and helped me accomplish," Fortner said. "I think it just came to me in my life at the right time and hopefully I came into Auburn's life at the right time. I'll forever be an Auburn Tiger."
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
