AUBURN, Ala. – A 20-point night for Honesty Scott-Grayson and a double-double for Kaitlyn Duhon led Auburn to a 94-65 women's basketball exhibition victory over Columbus State Thursday night at Neville Arena.
Balanced scoring, transition offense and controlling the paint were keys for Auburn as they won their final tune-up before Monday's regular-season opener.
"Overall, the kids played hard," Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. "You score 94 points, you have to be pleased with that. I was able to use different lineups – I was able to go small, go big. The message to the team is just to keep working. When I call your number, you never know.
Scott-Grayson led the Tigers with 20 points in just under 20 minutes of action. She also tied for the team lead with five assists to go along with four rebounds and a steal.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Duhon was a force on both ends of the floor. She recorded a double-double with 10 points – all in the fourth quarter – and 10 rebounds to go along with six steals and three assists.
"We hadn't really worked the big lineup, but we put them out there and they were effective," Harris said. "We have players that can do multiple things, but everything starts with defense. And Duhon was a beast on the defensive end."
Three other Tigers hit for double-digits on the night. Mar'Shaun Bostic scored 13 points along with seven rebounds and five assists, Sydney Shaw had 12 points, and Celia Sumbane added 11 points with three steals. Oyindamola Akinbolawa contributed eight points in just eight minutes of action, along with three rebounds and a pair of steals.
An evenly matched first 10 minutes saw the Tigers maintain a slim advantage throughout, taking a 22-18 lead after one. That lead was still just five points at 34-29 at the under-5 media timeout in the second quarter.
But fresh legs for the Tigers over the last four minutes of the quarter proved to be the difference as Auburn went on a 17-3 run to end the period, hitting their final five field goal attempts of the half to take a 51-32 lead at the break.
From there, it was all Auburn as Columbus State would draw no closer. All 13 Tigers dressed saw at least six minutes of action.
Auburn shot 51.4 percent from the floor, working the ball inside as 58 of 94 points came in the paint. The Tigers also scored 31 points off 25 Cougar turnovers and used their speed to notch 32 fast-break points. Auburn also pulled down 49 rebounds to CSU's 33.
Letiya Reeves, Olonna Rawls and Zuzanna Rudenko each scored 10 points to lead Columbus State.
Auburn opens the 2023-24 regular season Monday, Nov. 6, when the Tigers host Jacksonville State. Game time is 7 p.m. CT at Neville Arena for Tipoff on the Plains.
Season tickets are available beginning at $50, and single game tickets are also on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AUBTix.com or call 855-282-2010.
Tigers run past Columbus State in final exhibition, 94-65
