GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A shorthanded Auburn women's basketball team stayed within striking distance of Florida throughout, but the Tigers could not overcome a poor shooting first half in a 68-54 loss Sunday at the O'Connell Center.
The Tigers traveled just eight scholarship players and one walk-on to Florida after a week that saw two games postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. But despite trailing by as many as 18 in the third quarter, Auburn cut the deficit to as few as seven midway through the fourth.
"We kept fighting," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy. "We got tired, we really got tired, but we were subbing as much as we could. But I'm so proud of the fight. They kept fighting, they kept playing hard. And that's all we asked them to do, was to get out and compete.
"We had good shots. I told them at halftime they were good shots, we just have to step up and knock them down. We were very aggressive in our traps, but we couldn't use them very long, and then we got tired late in the fourth quarter."
Unique Thompson, playing for the first time in four weeks, picked up where she left off with her eighth double-double of the season, posting 14 points and 14 rebounds. She also led Auburn with four assists and shared the team lead with two steals. Honesty Scott-Grayson led the Tigers with 18 points, and Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu added a career-high nine points in her first collegiate start.
"Unique was another one in the beginning that had some good looks, but not having played a game since Dec. 20, you've kind of got to get your rhythm back a little bit," Williams-Flournoy said. "She started getting better as the game went on, but it's tough to get your rhythm back starting the game on the road in the SEC."
Despite numerous good looks at the basket, the Tigers shot a season-low 27.9 percent from the field (19-68) while Florida was 25-of-59 (42.4%). The Tigers' defense came up big, especially in the second half, turning 12 Florida turnovers into 20 points. But despite out-rebounding the Gators 44-41, including 20 offensive rebounds, Auburn was only able to eke out two second-chance points.
The Tigers trailed 21-8 after one quarter, but the final 30 minutes only saw the Gators outscore Auburn by one point. It was 35-21 at halftime, but Auburn opened up the third quarter on an 8-0 run to cut it to a six-point game. Auburn, however, would get no closer.
Kiara Smith led Florida with 22 points and 13 rebounds, and Lavender Briggs added 18 points.
The Tigers are back inside Auburn Arena Thursday night to host No. 12 Kentucky in a contest originally scheduled for last week. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT and tickets are available at AuburnTigers.com.
