Nov. 23, 2014
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Sophomore Brandy Montgomery scored a career-high 24 points, but Auburn's women could not overcome a red-hot Virginia team in a 66-51 loss at John Paul Jones Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Auburn (3-1) trailed by just five at halftime, but Virginia (4-0) went on a 10-0 run early in the second half and never looked back. The Cavaliers led by as many as 21 before the Tigers made a few baskets late to cut the final deficit to 15.
"I thought we didn't play aggressively or tough at all," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "In fact, I thought we played a little scared. We had some good looks at the basket, and a few times we just threw it at the basket.
"It goes to show that we're a young team. When we got down, a few heads dropped. We didn't know how to fight, especially when (the deficit) got above 10. We've just got to fight a little harder. You've got to understand that not every game is going to be easy. And we've got to do some things right. We had bad rotations, lack of boxing out, just certain things that they just have to do right."
The Tigers shot 32.3 percent for the game, including 29 percent in the second half. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were 50 percent from the field in the game but hit 13 of 20 attempts (65%) in the second half.
Montgomery hit a career-high six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points, eclipsing her previous career-high of 22 from last season's game at LSU. She hit 9-of-20 attempts from the field, including 6-of-11 from 3-point range.
Katie Frerking led the Tigers on the boards, pulling down six rebounds while scoring three points. Tra'Cee Tanner, Auburn's leading scorer in the first three games, had six points and four rebounds.
Auburn trailed 33-28 at halftime. Virginia attempted 11 free throws in the first half, converting on nine, while Auburn did not get to the line until late in the period, making just one of three attempts. The Tigers were 3-for-12 at the line for the game.
Virginia was led by Sarah Imovbioh with 21 points and 13 rebounds; she had a double-double by halftime. Faith Randolph added 18 points for the Cavaliers.
Auburn continues its two-game road swing on Saturday, Nov. 29, as the Tigers will travel to Rock Hill, S.C., to face Winthrop. Tip is set for noon CT.