Auburn welcomed Southeast Louisiana University to Auburn Arena the same way it did in Beard-Eaves Coliseum over 15 years ago, with a beating.
The Auburn women's basketball team defeated the Lady Lions 72-44 Thursday night at Auburn Arena for the Tigers' ninth straight win at home.
The only previous meeting between the two teams was on Nov. 29, 1997, at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, where the Tigers defeated the Lady Lions 92-55.
The Tigers' (5-2) 28-point win over Southeastern Louisiana (3-4) did not come easy.
Auburn's offense was sluggish in the beginning against its opponent's zone defense and missed 10 of 11 shots to start the game.
"I really don't think we were taking our time," head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "I thought we were settling for outside shots too much. We had to get in the paint a little more, get a little more high percentage shots. It's hard because when you see zone, everybody thinks they should just shoot the ball from the outside."
Junior Tra'cee Tanner, who has held or shared the Auburn scoring lead in five of six games this year, only had two points in the first half.
"I think I started off a little too jittery, rushing my shots, not taking my time," Tanner said. "I was letting my offense affect my defense, and we always say that our defense sparks our offense."
The Tigers pulled it together at the end of the first half with a 21-6 run that gave them a five-point lead heading into the locker room.
Jessica Jones led the way for the Tigers in the first period with eight points. The freshman ended the game with a career-high 11 points.
"Jessica Jones is getting better because she is competing with Tra'cee (Tanner) every day in practice," Williams-Flournoy said. "She is going up against Tra'cee so coming out here, this is nothing. This is a breeze for her."
The Tigers shot 42.6 percent from the field in the first half.
Auburn found its rhythm in the second half, jumped out to a big lead, and never looked back
Tanner returned in the second half as Auburn's scoring threat and led the way with a team-high 15 points and six rebounds.
Sophomore Brandy Montgomery posted 14 points with four rebounds and two assists.
"I'm just trying to take good shots, and when I'm open knock it down," Montgomery said. "Just continue to take the best shot, not just any shot that I feel like taking."
Freshman Neydja Petithomme had a career-high 11 points with three rebounds and six assists.
Auburn was 30 of 56 from the field and shot 53.6 percent as a team in Thursday's victory.
The Tigers will take nine days off for final exams then return to action Sunday, Dec. 14, to take on Samford at home.
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