AUBURN, Ala.(EETV) - The Tigers traveled to Arkansas to face the Razorbacks with the hope to secure a win on the road after suffering close loses to Vanderbilt and Mississippi State last week. Fighting till the last-second, the Tigers fell to the Razorbacks with 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock as leading scorer Amber Ramirez drove to the baseline and banked in a short jumper giving Arkansas the
win.
With the loss, Auburn falls to 9-13 on the season and 1-10 in conference play.
Auburn led the majority of the game, trailing for the first time at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Arkansas taking advantage of turnovers and fouls from the Tigers resulted in clutch plays to win in the end.
“I was really proud of how my team came out and fought,” Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris said. “I thought we came out and were really good offensively and defensively in the first half but then Ramirez got hot in the second half, they started going to her, she exploited some mismatches, and she got going. But again, my team fought. We still had our chances. Then we had a bad turnover (at the end).”
Possession of the ball was a big emphasis for the Tigers while on offense. Focusing on milking the shot clock and allowing amply time for plays to develop. However, they struggled rebounding on both sides of the court, allowing the Razorbacks to capitalize against the Tigers.
With a season-high Honesty Scott-Grayson scored 23 points along with eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. Jala Jordon hit three 3- pointers early in the first half ending the night with 13-points and 6 defensive rebounds. Aicha Coulibaly adding 12 and heavily contributing to Auburn’s 92 percent free throw shooting.
Both teams shot 41 percent from the floor. Arkansas struggled the first half scoring against the Tigers but overcame it by knocking down five 3-pointers in the second half.
Auburn came out firing, leading 15-7 halfway through the first quarter, with junior guard Scott-Grayson knocking down four of her first five shots. On the strength of Jala Jordan 3-pointers in the second quarter and a 4-for-5 stretch at the free throw line the Tigers secured the lead at the half 36-29.
The Tigers had momentum heading into the second half of play, but the Razorbacks came out fighting not willing to be taken down in front of their home crowd. With the Hogs hitting back-to-back three-pointers the momentum quickly shifted behind them.
With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Arkansas tied the Tigers for the first time since tip off. Gaining their first lead of the game with just a little over five minutes left to play. Both teams ran the floor, switching leads three times with Auburn taking it as Sania Wells hit crucial free throws with 53.8 seconds left in the game.
After an Arkansas free throw tied the game at 66-all, Auburn with the opportunity to hold for the last shot; lost the ball resulting in Arkansas getting the ball with 3.5 seconds left. They ran an inbound play banking in a 2 pointer to win the game.
Auburn returns to action Monday night, Feb. 14, as the Tigers host the Florida Gators at 6 p.m. It’s the annual Play4Kay Pink Game, and fans are encouraged to wear pink. Harris and associate head coach Bob Starkey will make a donation to the Kay Yow Foundation for every student that attends next Monday’s game; Harris will donate $2 per student and Starkey will contribute $1 per student.
