AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn women's basketball team faces one of its toughest tests of the season Monday night when No. 7 Mississippi State visits Auburn Arena. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CT.
The first 500 fans will receive a free Auburn women's basketball "Team of Excellence" t-shirt. Tickets are available at AUBTix.com or by visiting the Auburn Arena ticket office.
The Tigers (14-2, 2-1 SEC) are looking to build on a pair of road wins last week. Auburn picked up its first conference win last Sunday with a 64-56 win at Florida, then went back on the road Thursday night and earned a 66-56 win at Alabama.
Junior Daisa Alexander has paced both the Auburn offense and defense the last two games, scoring 22 points in each game and averaging 4.5 steals in the two road wins. Freshman Erin Howard has also stepped into her new starting role and been a key contributor in several areas – she led Auburn with five assists and added three steals in Thursday's win at Alabama.
Auburn's defensive pressure has paid dividends the last six quarters of play – since halftime of the Florida game, the Tigers have forced 38 opponent turnovers and converted those into 53 points. For the season, Auburn is averaging 26.3 points per game off opponent turnovers and leads the SEC with 12.6 steals per game.
That defensive pressure will be sorely needed Monday night. Mississippi State (15-1, 3-0) is the nation's second-leading offensive team, averaging 92.4 points per game. Senior Teaira McCowan averages 16.5 points per game and is the nation's second-leading rebounder with 13.5 per game.
Andy Burcham, Larry DiChiara and Brit Bowen will have the radio broadcast beginning at 5:45 p.m. CT on WTGZ 93.9 FM, AuburnTigers.com and the official Auburn Tigers mobile app. Monday's game can also be seen on SEC Network with Brenda VanLengen and Andraya Carter calling the action.
QUICK HITS
• This is the 57th meeting between Auburn and Mississippi State in women's basketball
• Auburn leads the all-time series 35-21, but Mississippi State has won the last five meetings
• Mississippi State, undefeated and ranked No. 2 at the time, won last year's meeting 82-61 in Starkville
• Auburn seeks its first win over a top-10 opponent since Jan. 3, 2016, when the Tigers defeated No. 7 Kentucky 66-61
• Junior Daisa Alexander has scored 22 points in each of Auburn's last two games against Florida and Alabama; she also has 9 steals in the last two games
• Senior Janiah McKay passed Lori Monroe for 13th all-time in scoring at Auburn with 16 points at Florida; she now has 1,427 points
• Sophomore Unique Thompson has recorded seven double-doubles in 15 games, including three straight against New Mexico, Iowa State and UL-Lafayette; she now has 14 in her career, tied for 9th in Auburn history
• Auburn has forced 20 or more turnovers in 13 of 16 games this season, including the last eight in a row
• The Tigers are averaging 26.3 points per game off opponent turnovers
• Auburn leads the SEC and ranks 6th in the NCAA in steals per game (12.6)
• At 14-2, Auburn is off to its best start since the 2008-09 season, when the Tigers won their first 20 games en route to an SEC Championship
AN AUBURN WIN WOULD...
›› Be Auburn's 15th victory of the year, guaranteeing a winning record in the regular season and surpass the 2017-18 season win total.
›› Give Auburn a 3-1 start in SEC play for the second time in three years.
›› Snap a five-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.
›› Snap a 17-game skid against ranked opponents.
›› Be Auburn's first win over a top-10 opponent since Jan. 3, 2016; a 66-61 win over No. 7 Kentucky.
AUBURN VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
›› This is the 57th meeting between Auburn and Mississippi State in women's basketball.
›› Auburn is 35-21 all-time against the Bulldogs, but Mississippi State has won the last five meetings.
UP NEXT
›› Auburn hits the road again Thursday, Jan. 17, when the Tigers travel to Nashville to face Vanderbilt at 7 p.m. CT.
Auburn women host No. 7 Mississippi State Monday night
