ESTERO, Fla. – Junior Unique Thompson picked up her fifth double-double in as many games, but the Auburn women's basketball team could never get going in a 73-50 loss to Middle Tennessee Friday morning to open the Gulf Coast Showcase.
A sloppy start to the game put the Tigers (2-3) in a big early hole, and Auburn was never able to climb out. Middle Tennessee (5-1) took advantage of 15 first-half Auburn turnovers to build a 21-point halftime lead, and Auburn was unable to make enough headway in the second half to get within striking distance.
"It was a point of emphasis not to turn the ball over, especially live ball turnovers," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "We started the game off so bad, then they started putting their heads down, which is sometimes a problem with a young team. They've got to understand adversity and keep fighting."
Thompson finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds to give her six straight double-doubles going back to last season. Sophomore Brooke Moore was the only other Tiger in double-figures with 11 points.
Auburn shot a season-low 34.0 percent from the field (18-53) and was 4-of-20 from 3-point range. The Tigers also turned the ball over 23 times, leading to 19 MTSU points. Auburn did get 11 second-chance points off eight offensive rebounds, but the Tigers were out-rebounded for the first time this season, 36-29. The Blue Raiders also hit 10 3-pointers.
Middle Tennessee forced nine Auburn turnovers in the first quarter, and the Tigers hit just 3-of-10 shots as the Blue Raiders jumped out to a 24-7 lead. Things got slightly better in the second quarter, but ball control still proved to be an issue as MTSU took advantage of 15 first-half turnovers to lead 40-19 at the half. Auburn would get no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.
Taylor Sutton led MTSU with 27 points, followed by Aislynn Hayes with 20.
Auburn will play again Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT against either Dayton or Gonzaga. Radio coverage begins at 9:45 a.m. on FM Talk 95.9 and online at AuburnTigers.com.