Aug. 12, 2012
Australian Tour Central | Auburn vs. Sydney Box Score
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SYDNEY, Australia - Hasina Muhammad scored a game-high 29 points, leading Auburn to a 67-58 win over the Sydney Flames Sunday at the Hornsby Brickpit Sports Stadium. With the win the Tigers improve to 2-1 on their Australian Tour. The Flames are a member of Australia's WNBL basketball league.
"It is encouraging to see some of the points we have been teaching start to show up during games," said first-year Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "Today, I thought our defensive intensity was good and the way we are moving and shifting in our defense is improving. We are going to be a defensive-minded team, first and foremost."
The Tigers made good use of their defense, forcing 27 Sydney turnovers that turned into 25 points. Muhammad and Alverson totaled three steals each in the win.
For Muhammad, the sophomore also tallied her third double-digit game of the tour and second 20-point game after scoring 29 against the Flames. She had 20 in the opener against the Logan Thunder and tallied 16 in the win over the Cairns Dolphins.
"We are seeing some really nice things out of Hasina," said Williams-Flournoy. "But, the most encouraging thing is the leadership role she is starting to take with the team. She was getting vocal out there in the second half and really took charge at certain points. That was good to see."
Senior Blanche Alverson also notched her third double-digit game as she scored 12 points in the win. Ten of Alverson's 12 points came in the second half, fueling an Auburn run that saw the lead climb to as many as 20 points.
Freshman Nicole Tanner neared double digits with nine points while junior Peyton Davis scored five along with her team-high eight rebounds. Chadarryl Clay, Cabriana Capers and Pascale West all scored four points each.
Sydney jumped out to the early lead, holding a 20-12 lead after the first quarter. The Flames led until back-to-back baskets from Davis and Muhammad gave Auburn its first lead of the game, 30-28, with less than three minutes to play.
Auburn would never trail again, pulling away to lead by as many as 20 points, 60-40, with five minutes left in the game. Sydney did not let up, though, out-scoring Auburn 18-7 in the final minutes, but the Tigers were able to hold on for the 67-58 win.
Sarah Graham led Sydney with 17 points, followed by Katie Ray Ebzery with 15, Alicia Poto with 13 and Michelle Joy with 10. Ellyce Ironmonger pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds for the Flames.
Auburn will conclude its Australian Tour August 13 as the Tigers take on the Sutherland Sharks in Sydney, Australia. Tipoff will be at 1 a.m. CT at the Menai Indoor Sports Centre.
Coach Williams-Flournoy talks about Auburn's win over Sydney: