AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) -- A 14-0 run in the second quarter helped Auburn erase a nine-point deficit and take control of the game in the Tiger's win over the Gators. Double-doubles from Aicha Coulibaly and Kharyssa Johnson helped Auburn put it away.
The Auburn Tigers (13-8, 3-6 SEC) knocked off the Florida Gators (13-8, 2-6 SEC) 66-55.
“These two carried us,” said Auburn coach Johnnie Harris on Coulibaly and Johnson. “They were battling bigger players but they won their position. I’m really proud of them. They worked really hard this week to prepare for this game. I think the best is yet to come for both of these players.”
Kharyssa Richardson led Auburn in scoring with 15 points, followed closely by Coulibaly with 14. Coulibaly led the Tigers in assists with five, followed closely by Jakayla Johnson and Honesty Scott-Grayson who had four each. Richardson led the team in rebounds with 16.
“The career highs feel good,” said Richardson. “The fall did take me out a little bit. I hurt my tailbone but I had to get back and shake it off.”
“She was amazing,” Coulibaly said about Richardson. “I don’t know how many times I told her I was proud of her in the game. We need that from her every day. If we have Kharyssa doing all this, it’s going to help us a lot going forward in the SEC.”
Auburn shot 26-69 (37.7%) from the field, 2-8 (25%) from three-point range and 12-18 (66.7%) from the free-throw line.
Getting the ball inside remained a focus for the Tigers, as 38 of their points came from inside the paint.
“My team just played with an edge,” Harris said. “They played tough, they were physical, they were aggressive. That’s something we talk about every day.”
Auburn capitalized on second chances, scoring 14 second-chance points off of 16 offensive rebounds.
Both teams committed 14 turnovers, Florida scored 13 points off of turnovers to Auburn's 12. The Gators also scored more bench points, having 22 to Auburn's 18.
Leilani Correa led Florida in scoring with 16 points. Kirsten Deans led the Gators in assists with five. Faith Dut led the team in rebounds with seven, followed closely by Alberte Rimdal and Nina Rickards with five each.
Florida shot 18-67 (26.9%) from the field, 10-22 (45.5%) from three-point range and 9-11 (81.8%) from the free-throw line.
Auburn will be back in action on Sunday when the Arkansas Razorbacks (17-7, 4-5 SEC) come to Neville Arena. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. CT.
