A pair of 2-0 teams met Thursday night in Auburn Arena in a game that did not disappoint.
The Tigers were able to overcome 3-point frenzy by Florida Gulf Coast to outlast the Eagles 72-69 in the first ever meeting between the two teams.
"I thought in the second half our team really stepped it up," Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "We got them off the three point line and picked up our defensive effort as well. It's a very good win for our program."
The Eagles had no answer for Tra'cee Tanner, who led the way for Auburn scoring 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting along with six rebounds.
After two relatively easy wins for Auburn to start the season, the Tigers overcame adversity in the game's closing minutes against a solid Florida Gulf Coast team that appeared in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
Tanner attributes preparation to the Tiger's poise down the stretch.
"It shows how much our practices have paid off," Tanner said. "I think everybody is starting to believe in our system and buy into it. We actually see that it's working now."
The Eagles were able to build a 7-point first half lead behind the sharpshooting of sophomore Stephanie Haas, who went 4-for-6 from deep during the period. Haas led all scores on the night netting 30-points off the bench.
In a game that saw 12 lead changes, Auburn made the big plays defensively in the game's waning moments.
After Hasina Muhammad's go-ahead jumper put the Tigers ahead with a minute remaining, full court pressure by Auburn forced Florida Gulf Coast into two consecutive charge calls.
"I thought Tra'cee and Katie did a great job of stepping in help side defense and taking charges." Williams-Flournoy said. "Both of them think they are shot blockers, so for them to actually understand the time and score situation, and know that it was a better for them to stay there and take the charges, that was huge for us."
Khady Dieng added 11-points for Auburn in the win. Sophomore Brandy Montgomery scored 10 and pulled down three rebounds as she continues to improve in her second season.
"Brandy is understanding a little more about taking good shots," Williams-Flournoy said. "She is maturing into not just being a shooter, she is becoming an all around player which is what we need."
Now battle tested, the Tigers will now prepare to travel to Charlottesville, Va. to take on the University of Virginia after winning their third straight game at home.
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