AUBURN, Ala. – Beating Missouri at its own long-range game, Auburn made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to win the battle of the Tigers 75-60 Sunday at Neville Arena, Auburn’s first SEC victory.
“Really pleased with how we started,” Auburn coach Johnnie Harris said. “I felt like we set the tone. You saw what can be when we have our squad back and have them healthy. They set the tone with the defense. It felt really good to get that first one under our belt.”
Leading 36-23 at the half, Auburn opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run that gave the home team a 19-point lead before Missouri (11-10, 0-6) answered with a 12-0 run to get within seven.
Auburn went more than eight minutes without a field goal before Yuting Deng beat the shot clock with a baseline fadeaway jumper that helped the Tigers take a 12-point lead to the fourth quarter.
Audia Young’s 3-pointer put Auburn ahead by 12 before Missouri, the SEC’s top 3-point-shooting team at 38 percent, responded with one of its nine 3-pointers and a fastbreak layup to get within seven. Jordan Hunter’s 3-pointer restored the home Tigers’ lead to double digits.
Deng blocked a Missouri shot and assisted in transition to DeYona Gaston, then Deng hit an uncontested 3-pointer. Auburn led by at least 10 points the last five and a half minutes of the game.
“We’re trying to get her (Deng) to fit and put her in positions to do what she does best,” Harris said. “She has shown flashes of that in practice.”
Deng, Taylen Collins and Celia Sumbane shared Auburn’s scoring honors with 13 points each. Gaston went 5-for-5 from the floor and added 11 points.
Sumbane recorded her first career double-double, grabbing a career-best 11 rebounds to help Auburn outrebound Missouri 36-30.
“It was great seeing the ball go up and Celia flying through the air and getting it,” said Collins, who added five rebounds and a team-leading four assists, two blocks and two steals. “She’s such a big impact on this team. For her to do that for us tonight for us was great.”
Auburn converted 22 Missouri turnovers in 27 points.
“That’s more like what I’m used to,” Harris said.
Sumbane made Auburn’s first 3-pointer to help the Tigers end the first quarter on a 6-0 run that gave Auburn an 18-11 lead after the first quarter.
Collins took over in the second quarter, scoring six points, making two steals and distributing two assists.
“Trying to build a spark for my team,” Collins said. “Continue to keep our energy and momentum going.”
Late in the half, Deng made her first Auburn bucket, a 3-pointer that gave the orange and blue Tigers a 15-point lead, their largest advantage of the half.
Auburn (10-9, 1-5) returns to the road Thursday at Mississippi State at 6:30 p.m. CT at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville.
“Our team has to be hungry every time we step on the court,” Harris said. “That has to be the mindset. We are getting some people healthy and we’re able to play the way we want to play. I think that brings some of that confidence.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer