AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn women's basketball fans can get their first look at the 2022-23 edition of the Tigers as they will host Tuskegee in an exhibition contest Thursday night at Neville Arena. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT, and admission is free to all fans.
The Tigers will officially open the season Tuesday, Nov. 8, when they host Sam Houston.
Auburn welcomes back three starters and eight letterwinners from the 2021-22 season that saw the Tigers finish 10-18 overall, 2-14 in SEC play, and notch three top-25 victories, including a historic home win over No. 4 Tennessee on Jan. 27. Junior Aicha Coulibaly, a preseason All-SEC selection, leads the way as the Tigers' leading returning scorer (17.1 ppg) and rebounder (7.5 rpg). Redshirt senior Honesty Scott-Grayson was second on the team in both categories last season, averaging 13.0 points and 5.7 rebounds.
Newcomers will play a key role for the Tigers this season. Freshmen Sydney Shaw, Kaitlyn Duhon and Kharyssa Richardson are all potential starters, and freshman Mya Pratcher and junior college transfer Jakayla Johnson all look to see plenty of minutes from the beginning.
Tuskegee was one of the SIAC's top teams last season, going 22-5 overall and 15-3 in conference play.
Season tickets are still available for the 2021-22 season for as low as $25 each. For more information, visit AUBTix.com or call 855-282-2010.
ON THE AIR
›› Brit Bowen and Larry DiChiara will call the action on WQSI 93.9 FM and online at AuburnTigers.com and the official Auburn Tigers mobile app; airtime is 6:45 p.m. CT.
›› There is no TV or live video for Thursday's exhibition.
AN AUBURN WIN WOULD...
›› Improve the Tigers to 18-9 all-time in exhibition games.
›› Be Auburn's 20th win all-time over Tuskegee, including regular-season and exhibition games.
AUBURN-TUSKEGEE SERIES
›› This is the 25th all-time meeting between Auburn and Tuskegee. The first 22 meetings were regular-season games; Auburn holds a 17-5 lead in those contests.
›› The teams have played two previous exhibition games in 2005 and 2006; Auburn won both games.
LAST MEETING: Nov. 7, 2006
Auburn 91, Tuskegee 23 (exhibition)
›› Auburn opened with 16 unanswered points and never looked back on its way to a 91-23 exhibition victory over Tuskegee at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum.
›› KeKe Carrier was the Tigers' leading scorer, dropping in 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and adding two free throws. Alexis Ogubie, Sherell Hobbs, Tamela McCorvey and Joanna Clayden also reached double figures on the night. Hobbs posted her second double-double of her career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
SCOUTING TUSKEGEE
›› Tuskegee finished 22-5 overall and went 15-3 in SIAC games last season. The Golden Tigers won the SIAC West Division and made it to the conference tournament semifinals.
›› Redshirt senior forward Ashiala Jackson, now in her seventh season at Tuskegee, was named the SIAC's Player of the Year in 2021-22. She averaged 19.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
›› Tuskegee's campus is just 20 miles from Auburn, making it the closest four-year college or university geographically to Auburn.
SCOUTING AUBURN
›› Auburn returns 3 starters and 8 letterwinners from the 2021-22 team that finished 10-18 overall and 2-14 in SEC play, doubling their win total from the previous season. The Tigers earned three wins over top-25 opponents last season, defeating No. 4 Tennessee, No. 18 Georgia Tech and No. 21 Georgia.
›› The Tigers return 72% of their scoring and 57% of their rebounding from last season, including the team's top three scorers.
›› Junior Aicha Coulibaly was a preseason All-SEC Second Team selection after earning a nod to the postseason All-SEC Second Team last season. She is Auburn's leading returner in scoring (17.1 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg) and steals (2.2 spg). She ranked ninth in the SEC in scoring last season. Coulibaly had nine games with 20+ points, including a career-high of 27 vs. Charleston Southern.
›› Redshirt senior Honesty Scott-Grayson returns for her third season on the court for Auburn. She was second on the team with 13.0 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last year, starting 27 of 28 games.
›› Senior Sania Wells was the SEC's leading free-throw shooter in 2021-22, hitting 90.5% of her attempts (76-84). That percentage ranked sixth in the nation. Wells was Auburn's third-leading scorer with 9.1 points per game and led the Tigers with 2.6 assists/game.
›› Redshirt sophomore Romi Levy returns to action after missing the 2021-22 season with a torn ACL. As a freshman in 2020-21, she averaged 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
›› Auburn's newcomers will look to make an immediate impact. Freshmen Sydney Shaw, Kaitlyn Duhon and Kharyssa Richardson are expected to be in the starting lineup opening night. All were highly-rated recruits that helped make up the Tigers' top-25 class last fall. Freshman Mya Pratcher and junior Jakayla Johnson also look to play significant minutes.
›› Freshman Audia Young will miss the 2022-23 season after suffering a torn achilles in preseason practice.
AUBURN IN EXHIBITIONS
›› This will be the second straight season for Auburn to play a preseason exhibition game. Last year, the Tigers defeated Miles College 102-42.
›› Auburn has won its last seven exhibition games against collegiate opponents.
UP NEXT
›› Auburn opens the 2022-23 regular season Tuesday, Nov. 8, as the Tigers host Sam Houston. Tip is set for 7 p.m. CT at Neville Arena.
Auburn women host Tuskegee for Thursday exhibition
