Feb. 7, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Trailing by 12 points with 5:12 left in the game, the Auburn women's basketball team (12-12, 3-8 SEC) shut in-state rival Alabama (10-14, 2-9 SEC) out for the remainder of the game, rattling off 10 unanswered points, but it would not be enough as the Crimson Tide held on for the 55-53 win Sunday at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Junior guard Alli Smalley scored 15 of her game-high 17 points in the second half to give the Tigers a shot at the win. She also pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds to record her first career double-double.
"Today was a tough day for us," said Auburn head coach Nell Fortner. "We could not knock down our free throws. If we could have hit some of those, it would have given us an opportunity to do something."
Auburn struggled at the charity stripe, connecting on only five of its 16 attempts in the game.
The Tigers' defense stepped up in the last five minutes of the game, holding the Crimson Tide without a field goal, forcing three turnovers. Smalley scored nine of Auburn's 10 points in the final stretch, but the Tigers could not convert on a last-second possession in the loss.
"The plan on the final play was to get Alli Smalley open," said Fortner. "We had a good screen, but Alabama's defense would not let her have any air. They defended her well and we could not get Alli the ball."
Down by three at halftime, Smalley, the lone Alabama native in Auburn's starting lineup, took over in the second half, scoring 15 points along with six rebounds and two assists.
"Alli turned it up a notch in the second half," said Fortner. "She gave all she could give, especially in the last few minutes, but it wasn't enough today."
Also scoring in double figures for the Tigers was senior center KeKe Carrier with 12 points and five rebounds. Carrier was held to 5-of-10 shooting in the game, due in part to Alabama's smothering defense.
"They were really physical with KeKe, everyone is, but they were able to get her away from the basket," said Fortner. "she did not get much position in there and had to settle for some shots out of her comfort zone."
Redshirt junior scored seven points along with six rebounds and three blocked shots while freshman point guard Morgan Toles led the team with five assists.
Auburn lost despite winning the rebounding battle, 37-32, and shooting a higher field goal percentage. The Tigers also pulled down 14 offensive rebounds, but could only convert them into 10 second-chance points.
Tierney Jenkins led Alabama with 17 points, 13 rebounds and four steals. LaToya King followed with 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Auburn shot 42.6 percent from the field, compared to 42.3 percent from the Crimson Tide. The Tigers also went 2-of-6 from beyond the arc while Alabama shot 4-of-17. The Crimson Tide made Auburn pay at the free throw line, converting seven of 11 attempts while Auburn shot 31.3 percent from the line.
Auburn will return to action at 6 p.m., Thursday as the Tigers host Arkansas (9-14, 1-9 SEC) at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. The Razorbacks lost 71-57, Sunday against Kentucky. For more information, go to www.AuburnTigers.com.