LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Auburn put together a strong defensive effort and held off a late Little Rock run to earn a 58-45 win on the road Sunday afternoon at the Jack Stephens Center.
The Tigers (7-2) used a big second quarter to build a 16-point halftime lead, then overcame a foul-heavy fourth quarter to hold on for their third road victory of the season and fourth straight win overall.
"My message to the team going into the fourth quarter was that they (Little Rock) are not going to quit," Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. "They started driving, getting some fouls, but we hung in there and hung tough. We started not finishing our shots, but down the stretch, I put the ball in Honesty's hands and she came through."
More than 100 supporters of Harris and freshman Savannah Scott – both Arkansas natives – filled the corner of the arena near the Tigers' bench as the two made their return to their home state.
"Lots of family and friends," Harris said. "Scottie had her family and her high school team, her church, my church, so just a lot. It was great."
JaMya Mingo-Young, making her first Auburn start, had a big day with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. She was 3-for-5 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line.
Honesty Scott-Grayson led the Tigers with 12 points along with two steals and a pair of assists.
"I thought (Mingo-Young) did a good job of running our team, getting the ball where it needed to be," Harris said. "Just played her heart out. And Honesty's just special. She got knocked around there a little bit, but I was glad to see her finish. And she finished with some toughness."
Taylen Collins was the Tigers' top rebounder with eight; she also had six points. Sydney Shaw added eight points with six coming on back-to-back 3-pointers late in the first half. And Savannah Scott pulled down six rebounds along with six points in front of her hometown fans.
Auburn led 32-16 at halftime after outscoring Little Rock 20-7 in the second quarter; the Tigers were 80 percent from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range in that second period.
The Tigers' lead would swell to as much as 23 early in the third as Auburn opened on a 7-0 run, and the lead was 20 after three quarters at 48-28. But Little Rock would claw its way back, cutting the deficit to single digits midway through the final quarter at 50-41 after opening the period on a 13-2 run.
However, the Trojans' best player on the day, guard Jaiyah Harris-Smith, would foul out with 3:00 to play, and Little Rock would make just one more field goal the rest of the way.
Auburn shot 41.5 percent (22-53) while Little Rock was slightly better at 43.9 percent (18-41). The Tigers used their defense to create offense, turning 19 turnovers into 20 points while outscoring the Trojans on the fast break 12-1.
Harris-Smith led the Trojans with 16 points.
Auburn returns home for its next five games, beginning with a visit from I-85 rival Alabama State Wednesday, Dec. 13. Game time is 7 p.m. CT at Neville Arena.
Auburn women win defensive battle at Little Rock
