Auburn looks to build a three-game winning streak on Monday, as the Tigers host the Florida Gators. Both teams are coming off of conference victories, and this matchup could serve as a key late-season momentum shift for the victor.
Florida’s win over the Vanderbilt Commodores last week snapped a four-game losing skid. Wins over Ole Miss and Kentucky have The Tigers in a position to build a winning streak and gather momentum during the final stretch of the season.
Defense has been the name of the game for the Tigers as of late. Their 5.3 blocks and 9.9 steals per contest ranks third and fifth in the conference respectively. In their last two matchups the Tigers' opposition has turned the ball over at least 20 times.
The Tigers are averaging 24 points off of turnovers during this span. Aicha Coulibaly leads the conference with 2.5 steals per game, and her efforts will need to remain top-notch if the Tigers wish to keep this defensive trend going.
Florida has proven to have a capable offense, scoring 73.5 points per game with KK Deans leading the way in buckets with 14.3 points per game. Leilani Correa and Nina Rickards are also key contributors to the offense, adding 13.8 and 13.5 points, respectively.
Florida’s carelessness with the ball could be an area of concern. The Gators average 17.2 turnovers per game, the third worse in the conference. Though the Gators may have the advantage on the offensive end, the defense of the Tigers along with Florida’s turnover woes may spell trouble.
A key offensive point for the Tigers will be their points in the paint. In their last two games the Tigers put up 41 points per contest in this area. The bench for the Tigers has also played a vital role for them lately. In their past two matchups the Tiger bench has contributed 25 points per game. Senior Sania Wells poured in 16 points and grabbed four rebounds off the bench in the Tigers' last game where Auburn edged out Kentucky in a 71-68 road win.
The Tigers will also rely on the offensive efforts of Coulibaly and Honesty Scott-Grayson who average 17.7 and 14.0 points per game, respectively. Coulibaly scored 20 points in the win against Kentucky while Scott-Grayson recorded 12.
Turnovers will likely be the key determinate in the winner of this outcome, The Tigers' defensive play and Florida’s ball security will be an aspect of the game to keep an eye on. With a win, Auburn will grab its third conference win of the season and surpass its SEC win total from last season.
The game between Auburn and Florida will tip-off Monday at 6 p.m. CST and will be broadcast on SEC Network as the Tigers aim to end a five-game losing streak against the Gators.
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