The first two meetings between Auburn and LSU were thrillers, with each team winning by five on its home floor. The third meeting was anything but a thriller as LSU scored the first 21 points of the game, cruising to a 78-48 win in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. Auburn never led in the game and trailed for the final 39:45 as its SEC Tournament run ended.
A dismal first quarter by Auburn set the tone for the game. In the game’s opening 10 minutes, Auburn shot just 5.9% from the floor, making just one of its 17 shots, and turned the ball over seven times. Meanwhile, Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers came out on fire, shooting 64.3% in the first quarter. LSU was up 21-0 after six minutes and led 27-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Honesty Scott-Grayson was held to just four points, tying a season-low. Scott-Grayson played just 19 minutes as she dealt with foul trouble. Only one Auburn player reached double figures scoring in the game, with McKenna Eddings scoring 15 on a 6-of-13 shooting night. Eddings made three of her five 3-point attempts.
Eddings was a bright spot on a tough offensive night for the Tigers. Eddings’ three triples accounted for all but one of Auburn’s 3-pointers, with JaMya Mingo-Young making the other.
Auburn shot 29.9% for the game and 26.7% from 3-point range. Auburn finished with 19 turnovers in the game, with LSU scoring 22 points off turnovers. Auburn forced 16 turnovers, with those resulting in 15 of Auburn’s points.
Meanwhile, LSU had five players in double figures, led by guard Flau’jae Johnson’s 25 points. All 78 of LSU’s points came from its starting five, with all but two of LSU’s 50 shots being attempted by a starter.
Foul disparity also caused issues for Auburn. Auburn was called for 23 fouls to LSU’s 12 and shot just six free throws to LSU’s 31. Five Auburn players finished with three or more fouls, including Honesty Scott-Grayson who was called for four fouls, including a technical.
Now, having suffered its most lopsided loss of the season, Auburn waits to hear its fate for the NCAA Tournament. ESPN listed Auburn as one of its projected last four byes in the tournament coming into the game. The selection show will be at 7 p.m. CST on Sunday, March 17 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
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Matthew is a senior from Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in journalism. He started with The Plainsman in fall 2021.
Twitter: @mattwallaceAU
