ROME – Three Tigers scored in double-figures, but a big halftime deficit was too much for Auburn to overcome in a 77-69 loss to the Netherlands National Team in the first game of Auburn's tour of Italy Friday night.
"We started out so slow," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "I think they didn't understand when we talked about the physicality of this (Netherlands) team. They came out very physical and kind of knocked us for a loop. Terrible first half, we recovered in the second half but just a little too late. (In the second half) they embraced the physicality, the bumping and really just started taking the ball to the basket, getting fouled instead of just standing out there shooting 3s."
Sophomore Brooke Moore led the Tigers with 17 points, knocking down four 3-point attempts on the night. Freshman Lauren Hansen added 15 points in her unofficial Auburn debut, and junior Unique Thompson recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
For the game, Auburn shot 40.3 percent from the field (25-62) with the majority of the offense coming after halftime. The Tigers were 55.8% (19-34) in the second half and had just five turnovers in the final 20 minutes.
Auburn trailed by as many as 25 points in the first half but cut the deficit to as few as seven in the fourth quarter. Poor shooting and turnovers dug the Tigers into their early hole as the Dutch led 41-18 at the break; Auburn shot 21.4 perecnt and turned the ball over 17 times in the opening half.
Emese Hof, a former All-American at Miami, led the Dutch with 24 points; Chatilla van Grinsven added 17. Holland shot 36.5 percent for the game but made eight 3-pointers and were 23-of-29 at the free-throw line in a very physical game from both sides.
The Tigers arrived in Rome Thursday morning after an overnight flight from Atlanta. Auburn's travel party toured the Colosseum, practiced and had a welcome dinner at the hotel Thursday night, then took a tour of Vatican City on Friday morning.
Auburn will continue its tour of Italy with more tours in Rome Saturday, then travel to Florence for the next three days. The Tigers' next game is Sunday in Florence against a European all-star team.
For the latest on Auburn women's basketball and to keep up with the Tigers in Italy, follow @AuburnWBB on Twitter and Instagram and the official Auburn Women's Basketball page on Facebook.