April 30, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn's women's basketball achievements from the 2017-18 season were recognized Sunday evening at the Tigers' annual postseason banquet, which was held on the scholarship terrace at Auburn Arena.
Junior Janiah McKay was honored as the team's leading scorer with 480 points (16.6/game) and was also presented a game ball for topping the career 1,000-point mark, which she did vs. Arkansas on Jan. 14. She was Auburn's high scorer in 16 of 29 games and topped the 20-point mark 10 times during the season. With 1,199 career points, she enters her senior season 24th in Auburn history.
McKay was also honored as the team's assist leader with 129 during her junior season. She will enter her senior year with 314 career assists, which ranks 11th in Auburn history.
Sophomore Daisa Alexander received the steals award as she had 80 takeaways (2.8/game); her total steals and her steals per game average led the Southeastern Conference for the season. She was also the SEC's steals leader in conference games with 42 (2.6/game). For her efforts, she was also named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.
Freshman Unique Thompson was honored as Auburn's top rebounder with 227 (8.4/game), the fifth-most by a freshman in Auburn history. She also tied the Auburn record for double-doubles by a freshman with seven during her rookie season, including a stretch of three in a row in December. Thompson was SEC Freshman of the Week twice during the season and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
All of the team members were also presented their yearly gifts -- letter jackets for the freshmen and newcomers, personalized blankets for the sophomores, watches for the juniors and rings for the seniors. A season highlight video was shown, along with a video with the Tigers' underclassmen honoring Auburn's five seniors -- Bria Johnson, Jazmine Jones, Jessica Jones, Tiffany Lewis and Sira Toure.
The Jones twins and Lewis were recognized for graduating a year early and progressing toward their Master's degrees, while Johnson and Toure are scheduled to graduate in May.
The Tigers finished third in the SEC in scoring defense, allowing 59.8 points per game. Auburn was among the nation's best defensive teams, leading the SEC and finishing second nationally in steals per game (13.2) and turnovers forced per game (22.9).
Auburn will return four starters, including its three leading scorers, for the 2018-19 season.