Auburn women’s basketball will be hosting Alabama State for its home opener at 1 p.m. CT on Nov. 8 in Neville Arena. The Tigers aim to carry the momentum from their overtime win against Charlotte into their first home appearance under new head coach Larry Vickers. Things look promising for Auburn as Alabama State is coming off a 73-44 loss.
Auburn leads the all-time series 7-0 against Alabama State. The Tigers dominated in their last meeting, winning 83-40, maintaining possession on both ends of the court. Auburn aims to continue its perfect record against the Hornets in this matchup. The Larry Vickers era began with a statement victory as Auburn opened the season with a 71–58 overtime win at Charlotte. The Tigers’ defense set the tone early, forcing 27 turnovers and converting them into 22 points. Despite a rough night for shooting, Auburn’s perseverance and high-pressure defense carried them into overtime, where they took control completely for a decisive 14-0 run to seal the game. The Tigers also controlled the glass with 42 total rebounds, 18 of which came on the offensive end, underscoring their physicality and relentless effort in Vickers’ first win as head coach.
Freshman Harissoum Coulibaly was a driving force with 19 points and five steals, including nine points in the extra period. Junior Ja’Mia Harris matched her with 19 points while adding eight rebounds and three steals, providing a steady veteran presence. Redshirt junior Kaitlyn Duhon contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and tied her career high with four assists, while sophomore Khady Leye made a strong Auburn debut with six points, four rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
The Hornets will be entering Neville Arena after a 73-44 loss in their season opener. They struggled to generate consistent offense, something the Tigers will be trying to exploit in the upcoming match. Alabama State will need to focus on slowing Auburn’s tempo and reducing turnovers after struggling with keeping possession last game. They will look to reset and build that rhythm early.
Auburn will look to build on its defensive dominance from the season opener, where pressure forced 27 turnovers. Replicating that same intensity could again be the difference, especially against an Alabama State team that has struggled with consistent offensive production. For Alabama State, handling Auburn’s full-court press and physical rebounding will be crucial in keeping the game competitive. The Tigers will aim to improve to 2-0 under Vickers while extending their unbeaten record against the Hornets to 8-0.
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