In their 50th game in Auburn Arena, the Auburn women's basketball team took care of business Wednesday, Nov. 13 and beat Jacksonville State 66-49.
Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy penciled freshman guards Brandy Montgomery and Katie Frerking into the starting lineup, marking the first time since 2010 two freshmen started a game for the Tigers.
Montgomery made the most of her opportunity, tallying 11 of her 15 points in the first half.
"She does an excellent job at the top of the press, and she still doesn't really even know much about what she's doing up there," Williams-Flournoy said. "She's just being athletic and being quick up there. But she can shoot the ball and she can score.
"You saw flashes of her being a freshman tonight. So once she finishes getting the nerves out of her system and settles down and starts playing, you're going to see a different Brandy Montgomery out there."
After Jacksonville State began the game on a 4-0 run, Auburn settled down and took a 14-11 lead midway through the first half. A Montgomery three point basket at the 6:50 mark brought the score to 21-13, and Auburn would take that eight point lead into the half, 31-23.
With 19 points, sophomore forward Tra'Cee Tanner was Auburn's leading scorer, but she was not pleased with her team's slow start to the game.
"We just have to figure out how to come out fighting in the first half instead of having that halftime talk and trying to come in and do what we're supposed to do in the second half and get over getting yelled at," Tanner said. "Instead of having (Williams-Flournoy) tell us how to do it, we just come out and do it."
Whatever Williams-Flournoy said at halftime worked. Tanner took her coach's advice and scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half.
"I got frustrated in the first half," Tanner said. "I fouled too much - too handsy I guess. But (Williams-Flournoy) definitely reinforced that I move my feet and calm down - just relax and do what she knows I can do."
With 7:32 remaining in the game, Tanner got fouled while making a layup. She made the free throw to successfully complete the three-point play and give Auburn a 50-37 lead - their biggest of the night. They would never relinquish it. Auburn went on to win 66-49.
Though visibly upset with the way they played against an overmatched Jacksonville State team, Williams-Flournoy and her players were pleased with their second win of the young season.
"Once again we started out the first half a little slow," said senior center Peyton Davis. "I'm not completely sure why we're so slow getting in the game, but like I said last time, anytime you can get a win it's great."
Auburn will travel to Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 16 to take on Temple in the first leg of their five game road trip.
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