AUBURN, Ala. – Behind a balanced offensive attack and a dominant defensive performance, Auburn women’s basketball closed its exhibition slate with a convincing 106-44 victory over Columbus State Wednesday night at Neville Arena.
Five Tigers scored in double figures as Auburn shot 65.2 percent from the floor and forced 28 turnovers, converting them into 41 points. The Tigers dominated the paint with a 70-12 scoring advantage and held the Cougars to just 25.9 percent shooting.
Kaitlyn Duhon led Auburn with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting while adding nine rebounds, five steals and three assists. Danielle Osho followed with 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, while Ashley Knox provided 16 points off the bench. Zahara Bishop added 12 points, and Phoenix Stotijn finished with 10 points and a team-high six assists.
“It’s good to get that first win at home out of the way,” head coach Larry Vickers said. “I didn’t feel like we were settled in the first half. We turned the ball over a lot more than we wanted. We did some untimely things. After halftime, we did a much better job of settling. Defensively, we gave up 13 points in that second half. Once we settled down, we started playing how we want and emphasizing all the things we wanted to work on.”
The Tigers wasted little time establishing control, opening the contest on a 9-0 run and holding Columbus State scoreless for nearly four minutes. Auburn shot 73.3 percent from the field in the opening quarter to build a 28-15 advantage.
Duhon provided the early spark with nine first-quarter points, while Osho added seven. Auburn continued to build its lead in the second period, stretching the advantage to 25 points before carrying a 54-31 lead into halftime.
Auburn put the game out of reach with a dominant third quarter, outscoring Columbus State 35-5. The Tigers connected on 14-of-19 shots in the period while limiting the Cougars to just one field goal.
The Tigers finished the night shooting 43-of-66 from the field, including 8-of-19 from beyond the arc. Auburn recorded 28 assists on 43 made baskets and held a commanding 45-23 rebounding advantage. Defensively, the Tigers recorded 18 steals and six blocks while limiting Columbus State to 14 made field goals.
Kaytlin Arnold led Columbus State with 14 points, while Nadea Smith added 10.
Auburn now turns its attention to Tipoff on the Plains against Alabama State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. CT at Neville Arena. Trading cards featuring the 2026-27 Auburn women’s basketball roster will be available while supplies last. The contest will air on SEC Network+. Fans can hear the radio call on ESPN 106.7 FM, AuburnTigers.com or the Auburn Athletics app.