OXFORD, Miss. – Auburn sophomore Honesty Scott-Grayson scored a career-high 23 points, but the Tigers' best effort so far in SEC play came up just short in a 62-58 loss at Ole Miss Thursday night.
The Tigers trailed by as many as 12 points late in the third quarter, but opened the fourth on a 7-0 run and got within two in the final minute of the game. But Ole Miss made a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
"The biggest thing was not turning the basketball over," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "And we started shooting the ball with confidence. Honesty took some great shots and shot it with confidence."
Scott-Grayson was 9-of-16 from the field and hit three times from 3-point range; she also led the Tigers with five rebounds and shared the team lead with three steals. Romi Levy added 13 points, and Morgan Robinson-Nwagwu equaled Scott-Grayson's steals total with three of her own.
As a team, Auburn shot 41.8 percent (23-55) and was 6-of-21 from 3-point range (28.6%). But the fourth quarter saw the Tigers hit 8-of-12 shots as they nearly completed the comeback. Ole Miss outrebounded Auburn 34-28, but the Tigers turned 19 Rebel turnovers into 17 points, their best showing in the turnover department in SEC play.
A slow start saw Ole Miss take a 16-8 lead after one, but the Tigers never led the Rebels pull away; it was 32-23 at the half. Auburn then made three straight 3-pointers in the third to pull within four, but the Rebels ended the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 12-point lead to the fourth. Auburn answered with a 7-0 run to start the final period, but Ole Miss got its lead back up to 10 at 59-49 with 3:13 to play. But over the next two-and-a-half minutes, Auburn got a 3-pointer from Scott-Grayson, a layup from Aicha Coulibaly, and a pair of jumpers from Scott-Grayson and Levy for a 9-1 run to get within two at 60-58 with 39 seconds to play. But the Tigers were unable to force another Rebel turnover, and a foul under the basket gave Ole Miss two clinching free throws with 14 seconds left.
Shakira Austin led Ole Miss with 25 points and 10 rebounds. The Rebels shot 44.9 percent for the game and went 13-for-18 at the free-throw line.
The Tigers are back in Auburn Arena for their next two contests, beginning Sunday afternoon as they host Missouri. Game time is set for 2 p.m. CT.
Tigers come up just short at Ole Miss
