AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn women's basketball team looks to build on a big season-opening win as the Tigers host Nicholls State Friday night in the opening round of the Preseason Women's NIT.
Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT at Auburn Arena. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Auburn men's team, who hosts Washington at 8:30 p.m.
Gates will open at 5 p.m., and tickets for both 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, remaining men's tickets will be on sale.
Auburn (1-0) cruised past Grambling Tuesday night in the opener for both teams, 97-48. It was the highest scoring output for the Tigers in nearly 10 years, and six players finished in double figures as the Tigers shot 53.5 percent from the field. Senior Janiah McKay and sophomore Unique Thompson both recorded double-doubles in the win.
Nicholls (0-1) dropped its opener on the road Tuesday at No. 4 Baylor, 100-39. The Colonels were the 2018 Southland Conference Tournament champions and won a program-record 19 games last season.
This is the first appearance for Auburn in the Preseason WNIT. A win for the Tigers would advance them to the quarterfinals, where they would either travel to New Mexico or play host to Texas State on Sunday. Details about that game will be announced when it becomes available.
Andy Burcham and Larry DiChiara will have the call of Friday's game on WTGZ 93.9 FM and online at AuburnTigers.com. Fans can also hear their call on the SEC Network + broadcast, available at WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app on 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 5 p.m., and from the Stadium Deck beginning at 6 p.m. Shuttles will run until one hour following the conclusion of the men's game.
PROMOTIONS
• Schedule magnet and poster giveaways
• Early entry for The Jungle
DOUBLEHEADER NOTES
• This is the second of three doubleheaders featuring the Auburn men's and women's basketball teams this season.
• Tuesday night saw the Auburn women defeat Grambling 97-48 and the Auburn men take down South Alabama 101-58. The combined total of 198 points is believed to be the highest doubleheader total for Auburn in history.
• The last doubleheader (prior to Tuesday night) on Dec. 18, 2016, saw plenty of drama in both games. In the men's game, T.J. Dunans hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the corner to give Auburn a 76-74 win over Mercer. And in the women's game, Auburn mounted a furious comeback to force overtime with No. 24 Virginia Tech before ultimately falling to the Hokies, 92-87.
• Since the opening of Auburn Arena for the 2010-11 season, the teams have played 10 doubleheaders coming into Friday's games. Both teams own an 8-2 record in those games; both women's losses were to ranked opponents (#24 Virginia Tech in 2016; #15 Texas A&M in 2014). Auburn has played 26 basketball doubleheaders since the start of the 2000-01 season.
QUICK HITS
• This is the second meeting between Auburn and Nicholls; Auburn won the first meeting 95-48 in 1999
• Dating back to last season, Auburn has played its last six non-conference games and seven of its last eight against schools from Louisiana (Nicholls, Grambling, Xavier (La.), Southeastern Louisana, Southern, Louisiana-Lafayette, ULM)
• The Tigers' first two games of the season come against 2018 conference champions from Louisiana - Grambling State (2018 SWAC Champion) and Nicholls State (2018 Southland Champion)
• Auburn is 69-30 all-time against schools from Louisiana
• Auburn is 24-1 all-time against current members of the Southland Conference, 13-0 at home
• Auburn is playing in the Preseason WNIT for the first time
• The Tigers scored 97 points against Grambling (11/6), the most of the Coach Flo era and the highest total since scoring 119 vs. Sam Houston State in 2008
• Under Coach Flo, Auburn is 4-0 when scoring at least 90 points and 24-1 when scoring at least 80 points
• Six Auburn players scored in double-figures vs. Grambling; the first time Auburn has done that since 2008 vs. Sam Houston State
• Janiah McKay (16 pts/10 assists) and Unique Thompson (14 pts/13 rebs) both had double-doubles in the season-opening win over Grambling; Thompson now has 8 double-doubles in 28 career games
• Auburn is 68-29 in non-conference games under Terri Williams-Flournoy and has won 14 out of their last 15 at home
AN AUBURN WIN WOULD...
• Give Auburn a 2-0 start to the season.
• Be the Tigers' eighth straight home non-conference victory.
• Improve the Tigers to 15-1 in their last 16 home non-conference games.
• Improve Auburn's record against opponents from the Southland Conference to 24-1.
UP NEXT
• If Auburn wins and New Mexico wins, Auburn would travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to face the Lobos at 3 p.m. CT Sunday, Nov. 11.
• If Auburn wins and Texas State wins, Auburn would host Texas State on Sunday (time TBD).
• If Auburn does not win, the Tigers would play two games Nov. 16-17 (opponents/location TBD).
Auburn hosts Nicholls in WNIT opening round
