Women’s Basketball: SLU falls at Auburn in non-conference road finale

AUBURN Ala. – Southeastern Louisiana could not overcome 31 turnovers in a 80-46 loss at Auburn in non-conference women’s basketball action Tuesday evening at Auburn Arena.

The Lady Lions (1-9) closed out their non-conference road schedule with their third straight loss. Auburn (8-3) extended its winning streak to five games, using full court pressure to score 34 points off SLU turnovers and finish with 19 steals.

Senior guard Taylin Underwood led Southeastern with 15 points, five rebounds and three steals. Sophomore guard Courtney Dawsey and junior guard Ashailee Brailey added eight points apiece for the Lady Lions. Dawsey and Underwood also each dished out a team-high four assists.

Freshman forward Unique Thompson posted a double-double for Auburn with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Senior guard Tiffany Lewis led a balanced Tiger attack with 15 points and was joined in double figures by sophomore guard Daisa Alexander (14 points) and junior guard Janiah McKay (10 points). McKay also led AU with five assists and five steals

The Lady Lion defense held Auburn to 30 percent shooting (3-for-10) from the floor in the opening quarter, but closed the opening period down, 14-7. Auburn scored the first 11 points of the second quarter to take a 25-7 lead.

A three by Underwood provided SLU with the first points of the second quarter, cut into the Auburn lead to 25-10 with 4:54 left in the first half. Southeastern would go into the break trailing, 35-18, after committing 17 turnovers in the initial 20 minutes.

Any chance of a Southeastern comeback was ended to start the third quarter, as Auburn scored the first nine points of the third quarter to extend the lead to 44-18 with 8:39 left in the quarter. Junior forward Jyar Francis answered with a three to get Southeastern on the board in the second half, but the Lady Lions would get no closer than 22 the rest of the way. Auburn kept SLU at bay by shooting 60.7 percent (17-for-28) from the floor in the second half.

Southeastern will close out non-conference play on Thursday, hosting Alabama A&M (4-5) at 2 p.m. in the University Center. The game can be heard live in the Hammond area on KSLU-FM (90.9), online at www.LionSports.net/listenlive and via the TuneIn Radio app. LionVision subscribers will be able to access a live video stream at www.LionSports.net/watch.

Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite tacky Christmas sweater to Thursday’s women’s game. Thursday will also be a Cane’s Challenge in the UC. If the Lady Lions score 50 or more points, fans will be able to take their game ticket or student coupon to their local participating Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers to receive a free combo with the purchase of another of equal or greater value.

Junior guard Rhomyia Tate and freshman forward Lauren Bush are Thursday’s Spotlight Players of the Game. The first 150 fans will receive trading cards featuring the Lady Lion newcomers courtesy of PRIDE.

Southeastern Louisiana 46 (1-9)
Francis 1-3 0-0 3, C. Williams 1-1 2-3 4, Underwood 4-9 3-4 15, Morrison 1-2 0-0 3, Brailey 3-4 0-0 8, K. Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Dawsey 2-8 3-6 8, Hall 0-1 0-0 0, Carrier 0-4 1-2 1, Dugas 0-1 0-0 0, Scholvin 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-38 9-15 46.

Auburn 80 (8-3)
Ja. Jones 3-7 3-5 9, Thompson 3-7 4-8 10, E. Jones 2-5 1-2 6, Lewis 5-9 1-2 15, McKay 3-8 3-4 10, Alexander 5-12 4-4 14, Sanders 3-4 1-2 7, Jackson 0-1 0-2 0, Wright 0-0 0-0 0, Lopez 0-1 0-0 0, Je. Jones 2-2 3-4 7, Toure 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 27-59 20-33 80.
End of 1st Quarter – AU 14, SLU 7. Halftime – AU 35, SLU 18. End of 3rd Quarter – AU 62, SLU 37. 3-point goals – SLU 9-26 (Underwood 4-6, Brailey 2-3, Dawsey 1-7, Francis 1-2, Morrison 1-2, Carrier 0-4, Dugas 0-1, Scholvin 0-1), AU 6-17 (Lewis 4-7, E. Jones 1-4, McKay 1-1, Alexander 0-3, Lopez 0-1, Toure 0-1). Technical Fouls – None. Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – SLU 22 (Underwood 5), AU 39 (Thompson 11). Assists – SLU 11 (Underwood, Dawsey 4), AU 13 (McKay 5). Total Fouls – SLU 22, AU 20. A – 1,585.