Early in the second half of the Auburn women's basketball team's March 24 WNIT game against Old Dominion, senior forward Tyrese Tanner decided it was time to put some space between the Tigers and the Big Blue.
Tanner rejected an Old Dominion shot, and then proceeded to go on a 6-0 run by herself.
"When we go on a run like that (the other team) sees that and gets a little down," Tanner said. "Their coach called a timeout, but it didn't stop our run, and I was very proud that we stayed in it."
The Tigers never looked back and cruised to 82-59 victory.
Throughout the season, Tanner has time and time again proved to be the catalyst on both ends of the floor for the Tigers.
Tanner can score at will against anyone, but she is also a valued part of the defensive machine the Tigers rely on to set up their offense.
"She can score different ways, really attack the basket, beautiful mid-range game," said Old Dominion head coach Karen Barefoot. "Defensively she's incredible. She's got a lot of good players around her, but they look to her a lot and she makes big plays for them."
So far in the tournament, Tanner has 41 points in two games, with 17 coming in the team's first round 78-64 win against Furman on March 20.
It's not just Tanner who has been hot in the tournament though, and she knows that the Tigers can win without her, if they have to.
"I know they can do it with or without me," Tanner said.
In the Old Dominion game, freshman Katie Frerking had ten points.
Tanner said Frerking can be a threat from anywhere on the court.
"She has both games," Tanner said. "She can shoot the three or she can penetrate. That's what we love about Katie; she's one hard worker and likes to attack the basket."
The Tigers will face a familiar foe in the third round of the tournament as they will travel to Starkville, Miss to face the Bulldogs of Mississippi State for the third time this season.
In their previous two meetings during the regular season, the Tigers won both games, each by eight points.
Tanner had 21 points in the February 9 matchup with the bulldogs, with 17 of them coming in the second half.
In that game, the Tigers exploited MSU defensively, using their aggressive press to create 27 total Bulldog turnovers, including 20 steals.
Tipoff for the March 27 game against Mississippi state game is set for 7 p.m.
Should the Tigers get their third win on the season over the Bulldogs, they will be one of the final eight teams standing.
The winner of the Auburn and Mississippi State game will face off against the winner of Thursday's game between George Washington and South Florida in the quarterfinal round.
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