AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn coach Johnnie Harris wore a Santa cap and her team delivered gifts in all sizes: 3-pointers, jumpers and layups to lead the hot-shooting Tigers to a 77-49 victory over North Florida Tuesday at Neville Arena, Auburn's seventh straight win.
"A good team win," Harris said. "We did a good job of sharing the ball. Our defense dictates our offense. We wanted to set the tone defensively. We did that. A good win before Christmas."
Honesty Scott-Grayson scored 17 points to lead four Tigers in double figures; it was her seventh time in the last eight games to lead Auburn in scoring. Romi Levy scored 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting. Sydney Shaw scored 14 points and led Auburn with four assists while fellow freshman Kharyssa Richardson added a career-high 10 points.
The Tigers shot 52.6 percent from the floor, 50 percent on 3-pointers and 73.3 percent from the free-throw line while holding North Florida to a 29.1 percentage on field goals.
Shaw was 3-of-5 on 3-pointers and Scott-Grayson made both of her 3-point attempts, improving to 49 percent (25 of 51) on the season.
"My teammates trust me that the shot is going to fall," Scott-Grayson said. "I've been making that a priority as well as defense. That hard work is paying off, getting in the gym and putting up those shots."
Auburn forced 25 turnovers and outscored the Ospreys 25-11 in points off turnovers. The Tigers blocked seven shots and outscored UNF by at least six points in each quarter.
After taking a break from competition for the next week, Auburn will take a 10-2 record into its SEC opener, the Tigers' best start since going 12-1 to begin the 2018-19 season.
Levy scored 12 points in a perfect shooting first half, making all five of her field goal attempts and a pair of free throws.
"I just need to focus on my shots and keep taking my shots in my spots," Levy said. "The second half they made adjustments on me so I was focusing on playing more as a point guard in the middle."
The Tigers used a pair of Shaw 3-pointers to close the opening quarter on a 14-6 run to take a 20-13 lead.
Scott-Grayson's 3-pointer extended Auburn's advantage to 36-18. The Tigers built a 20-point lead before the Ospreys cut their halftime deficit to 15 at 38-23.
Levy blocked a UNF shot, drove the length of the court and passed to Scott-Grayson for a corner 3-pointer that put Auburn ahead 43-23 in the third quarter, part of the Tigers' 20-2 edge in fast break points.
After closing out non-conference play with a 6-0 home stand at Neville Arena, Auburn begins SEC competition Dec. 29 at Ole Miss at 6 p.m. CT.
"We know what's coming," Scott-Grayson said. "It's fixing to get real. The upperclassmen have been trying to prepare (the younger players)."
Of her holiday headgear, Harris said she was reminded to continue her yuletide tradition by a team video staffer.
"There was a child after the game who asked me for it," said Harris, sharing the spirit of the season. "I happily gave it to them."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Hot-shooting Tigers beat North Florida 77-49 for 7th straight win
