AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn opens its 48th season of women's basketball on Tuesday, Nov. 6, as the Tigers host Grambling State at Auburn Arena. Game time is 5:30 p.m. CT as the front end of a doubleheader with the Auburn men's team.
Gates will open at 4:30 p.m., and tickets for both the men's and women's games will be accepted for admission throughout the women's game. Tickets for the women's game will be sold until halftime of that game; after that, men's tickets will be on sale. See below for parking information.
The Tigers return four starters – including the team's top three scorers – and six letterwinners from the 2017-18 squad that finished 14-15 overall, 5-11 in SEC play. Auburn was picked to finish eighth in the SEC in 2018-19 in votes of both the media and the league's coaches.
Head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy begins her seventh season at the helm of the Tigers' program with a 102-91 record on The Plains and a 245-195 overall mark beginning her 15th season as a collegiate head coach.
Auburn's projected starting lineup includes seniors Janiah McKay and Emari Jones, juniors Daisa Alexander and Crystal Primm, and sophomore Unique Thompson. McKay was the Tigers' leading scorer in 2017-18, averaging 16.6 points/game, and also led the team in assists (4.4/game). Alexander scored 14.2 points/game as a sophomore last season and led the SEC in steals with 2.8/game, earning a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team. Thompson led all SEC freshmen with 8.4 rebounds/game last year and added 11.5 points per night; she had seven double-doubles to tie DeWanna Bonner for the Auburn freshman record.
Jones played in all 29 games last season, averaging 5.0 points. She was Auburn's second-leading 3-point shooter a season ago with 29 made treys. And Primm is set to make her Auburn debut after sitting out the 2017-18 season following a transfer from Duke.
Grambling finished with a 19-14 overall record last season (13-5 SWAC) and won the SWAC Tournament championship to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. Senior Shakyla Hill returns as Grambling's leader in nearly every statistical category.
Andy Burcham and Larry DiChiara have the radio call on WQSI 95.9 FM beginning with the pregame show at 5:15 p.m. CT. You can also hear their call on the SEC Network + video feed, available via WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app for mobile devices.
DOUBLEHEADER PARKING INFORMATION
Men's basketball parking regulations are in effect – fans must have an "S" lot pass to park in the main arena lot. Additional parking is available in the Coliseum lot, Campus Safety parking lot (corner of Donahue/Magnolia), Stadium Deck (levels 1 and 2) and the Athletic Complex.
Additionally, a Tiger Transit shuttle will run from the Facilities Management lot off Samford Ave. beginning at 4:30 p.m., and from the Stadium Deck beginning at 5:30. Shuttles will run until one hour following the conclusion of the men's game.
For more information, click the "Doubleheader Information" link on the right side of the page.
PROMOTIONS
• Schedule magnet and poster giveaways
• Early entry for The Jungle
QUICK HITS
• Auburn is 38-9 all-time in season openers and 26-3 when opening the season at home
• Auburn has won 39 straight home openers, dating back to 1977-78
• Auburn won the last meeting between the teams 92-42 in Auburn on Nov. 17, 2014
• The last meeting between the teams resulted in the highest point total (92) and largest margin of victory (50) for Auburn in the Terri Williams-Flournoy era
• Auburn finished the 2017-18 season ranked No. 2 in the nation in steals/game (13.2) and No. 3 in turnovers forced (22.9)
• Auburn is 67-29 in non-conference games under Terri Williams-Flournoy
• Senior guard Janiah McKay and sophomore forward Unique Thompson were named Preseason All-SEC (2nd team)
AN AUBURN WIN WOULD…
• Boost the Tigers' record in season openers to 39-9 overall, 26-3 when opening the season at home.
• Be Auburn's 40th straight win in a home opener.
• Improve Coach Flo's record in season-openers at Auburn to 6-1 and her overall record in openers to 11-4.
• Give Auburn a 28-0 home record against opponents from the SWAC.
SCOUTING GRAMBLING
• Grambling State finished with a 19-14 overall record (13-5 SWAC) in 2017-18 and was the SWAC Tournament Champion, advancing to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
• Last season, the Lady Tigers averaged 66.4 points per game and shot 39.4% from the floor. They pulled down 35.3 rebounds per game but gave up 44.2.
• Senior Shakyla Hill, a 5-7 guard, returns as Grambling's leader in scoring (16.8 ppg), rebounding (7.5/game), assists (5.7/game), steals (4.8/game) and blocked shots (0.3/game). Hill had 158 steals last season to rank No. 2 in the nation. She was also the fourth player in Division I history to record a quadruple double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a win over Alabama State on Jan. 3.
AUBURN-GRAMBLING SERIES
• This is the third meeting all-time between Auburn and Grambling State. Auburn won each of the prior two meetings in 2004 and 2014.
• In the last meeting between the teams, Tra'Cee Tanner scored a career-high 31 points as Auburn defeated Grambling 92-42 at home on Nov. 17, 2014.
UP NEXT
• Auburn plays host to Nicholls State at 6 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 9, in the first round of the Preseason Women's NIT. The winner of Friday's game will play the winner of New Mexico/Texas State on Sunday, Nov. 11, at a site to be determined.
Auburn women open 2018-19 season vs. Grambling
