7AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn played relentless defense, set the program record with 28 steals and scored 28 straight points to run away early from Alabama State, defeating the Hornets 94-37 Wednesday at Neville Arena for the Tigers' fifth straight win.
"We wanted to establish dominance from the start and that starts for us on the defensive end," Auburn coach Johnnie Harris said. "We were pressuring the ball and we made them pass the ball where they didn't want to pass it. We didn't let them get into their offense."
Honesty Scott-Grayson led the Tigers with a season-high 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Taylen Collins scored 17 points, also a season high. Celia Sumbane scored 11 points and led Auburn with seven rebounds and five steals, and McKenna Eddings added 10 points.
"We've been working on that," Scott-Grayson said. "That's our bread and butter, getting steals."
Auburn forced 40 turnovers – tied for the second-most in program history – leading to 53 points. Collins and Kaitlyn Duhon each added four steals. Carsen McFadden made the first of her two steals midway through the fourth quarter to help Auburn break the previous program record of 25. Twelve of the 15 Tigers who played recorded a steal.
"We were pleased with the steals and the points off turnovers," Harris said. "It starts with Coach Fred (Williams) getting them where they need to be and everybody doing their job. If you're in the right spot, you'll get a steal or force a turnover."
Scott-Grayson got the Tigers off to swift starts in each half by making 3-pointers.
"It feels good," Scott-Grayson said. "I just try to shoot the open shot and share the ball."
Auburn scored the game's first seven points before the Hornets' first bucket at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter.
The Tigers then held ASU scoreless for the next 10 minutes and 27 seconds while pouring in 28 unanswered points, many in transition after steals. The Tigers outscored Alabama State 30-2 in fast-break points.
Auburn made 10 steals and forced 15 turnovers while taking a 27-2 lead after the first quarter. The Tigers made 16 steals among ASU's 23 first-half turnovers.
Collins ended the first half with a jumper to give the Tigers a 46-13 halftime lead.
"Being up and playing in the passing lanes," Collins said. "I think the pressure we brought defensively caused them to struggle and we wanted to keep applying that pressure. It sets a tone for us because we pride ourselves so much on defense. When we can get that to turn into our offense that makes the game so much easier for us."
Leading by 33 points at the half, the Tigers scored the first 11 points of the third quarter to build a 44-point advantage.
Makenna Eddings beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter to put Auburn ahead 76-22. Audia Young's jumper in the closing seconds gave Auburn a 57-point victory.
Auburn (8-2) plays the second segment of its five-game homestand Saturday at 2 p.m. CT vs. Norfolk State at Neville Arena.
"You can see the chemistry is getting better," Harris said. "The chemistry on the floor comes with experience, playing together. They're starting to know each other, they're playing hard and they're trusting each other."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Grinch Mode: Auburn sets steals record in 94-37 rout of ASU
