AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn women's basketball team took the floor at Auburn Arena Monday afternoon, going through their first official practice of the 2019-20 season.
The Tigers practiced just over three hours on the main floor at the arena as Auburn's eighth season under head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy got underway.
"The first day of practice is always fun," Williams-Flournoy said. "You still get excited about the first day of practice. From the perspective of the student-athlete, they're just happy that they're not going to the track anymore. There's also a little bubbling feeling inside because you don't know what to expect. But once you get out there, you just practice.
It was a different feeling this year, Coach Flo said, having already had an extra 10 practices during the summer in preparation for the team's August trip to Italy.
"Having gone to Italy this summer, we're not having to start from the ground up," she said. "There wasn't a whole lot of teaching in the first practice today. There were a few reviews, but then we just got after it right away. A lot of 5-on-5, a lot of the offense is already in. It's just different when you've played in the summer, now you're just kind of polishing up some things."
Junior Unique Thompson, one of just three upperclassmen on the Tigers' roster, was excited about the official start to the season after a busy summer and preseason conditioning.
"It felt good to get out there," Thompson said. "Today was actually good because we kept doing things that we had done over the summer, but this is now official practice and the season is coming soon. The preseason went by fast. But now practice is here, we got it done and we had a great day."
Auburn returns three starters and eight letter-winners from the 2018-19 team that finished 22-10 overall, 9-7 in SEC play and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons. Two of the team's top three scorers from last season in Thompson and senior Daisa Alexander return, along with junior Abigayle Jackson and sophomores Erin Howard, Kiyae' White, Robyn Benton, Brooke Moore and Natalie Kelly. A total of seven newcomers are on the Tigers' roster with five freshmen eligible to play this season.
The Tigers open the season at home Wednesday, Nov. 6, against Wofford. Auburn will play 13 home games during the 2019-20 season.
Season tickets are on sale now with general admission seats available for as low as $25. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AUBTix.com or call the Auburn Ticket Office at 855-282-2010.
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