TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Auburn's Honesty Scott-Grayson scored 17 points, but Alabama started fast and pulled away late for a 67-55 women's basketball win Sunday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.
The Tigers once again dug themselves an early hole, fought back to keep within striking distance, but could not finish off the comeback in the first of two meetings with the Crimson Tide this season.
"Our defensive stops were giving us an opportunity to score in transition," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "But we had to be able to score today, and we missed a lot of open shots."
Scott-Grayson's 17 points included a 7-for-8 day at the free throw line; she was the only Auburn player to attempt a free throw in the game. She also led the Tigers with four assists and matched a career-high with five steals. Unique Thompson picked up her 10th straight double-double and 52nd of her career with 10 points and 10 rebounds on the day. Alaina Rice matched a season-high with nine points, and Jala Jordan and Romi Levy added eight apiece.
Shots would not fall for the Tigers early as Auburn finished the day at 35 percent from the floor (22-62) and just 4-of-19 on 3-pointers (21%). Alabama, meanwhile, hit 26-of-56 from the floor (46%) and knocked down seven treys. Auburn out-rebounded Alabama 38-33 and turned 14 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points, and the Tigers got 20 points off their bench.
Alabama hit six of its first seven shots to jump out to an 11-0 lead, but the Tigers righted the ship and got within seven after one quarter, 21-14. It would get as close as a two-point game at 24-22 late in the second quarter before the Tide finished the period on 7-0 run to take a 31-22 lead at the break.
An 8-2 Auburn run to close the third quarter cut the Alabama lead to 45-38, and buckets from Jordan and Scott-Grayson got Auburn within four at 49-45. But moments later, a foul on a made layup at the other end, an offensive rebound and a corner 3-pointer from Jasmine Walker gave Alabama a five-point possession and a nine-point lead.
Jordan Lewis and Ariyah Copeland shared the Alabama lead with 19 points, and Walker added 17.
Auburn returns home to face No. 8 Texas A&M Thursday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m. CT at Auburn Arena with a national broadcast on SEC Network.
