ATHENS, Ga. (EETV) - Auburn women's basketball traveled to Athens to face the Georgia Bulldogs in its final road game of the season. DeYona Gaston and Yuting Deng combined for 42 points, but the Bulldogs rallied with a 13-3 run in the fourth quarter to defeat the Tigers 62-59.
Auburn entered the game on a four-game losing streak and looked to redeem itself against a struggling Georgia team. The Tigers appeared poised to snap their skid, but the Bulldogs showed resilience, completing the comeback with a late run to secure a much-needed home win.
Deng and Gaston led Auburn early, combining for 12 points in the first quarter, with Deng hitting two 3-pointers. The only other Tiger to score was Jordan Hunter, who added three points. Georgia struggled offensively, with no player scoring more than three points. The Bulldogs missed 67% of their shots and found themselves trailing 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams committed costly turnovers and fouls, with subpar ball movement hampering their offenses. However, shooting woes hurt Georgia the most, as the Bulldogs' inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities and four first-quarter turnovers put them in an early deficit.
Auburn continued to control the pace in the second quarter. Gaston and Celia Sumbane made key baskets to maintain the Tigers’ momentum, forcing Georgia to call a timeout. Despite Auburn's pressure, Georgia kept fighting and was only outscored by four points again in the period.
Gaston took over to close the half, scoring 11 of Auburn’s second-quarter points and grabbing four rebounds. The offense flowed through her, and she delivered, shooting 5-of-6 from the field. Auburn’s defense also remained strong, forcing four turnovers, though the Tigers committed five of their own.
At halftime, Auburn led 29-24 behind Gaston’s 17 points.
Both teams shot significantly better in the second half, making for a more competitive game. Georgia cut Auburn’s lead to one point with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Tigers responded, pushing the margin back to five. Improved ball security led to more offensive efficiency, as both teams scored 16 points in the quarter.
Georgia continued to gain momentum, improving each quarter. With five minutes left in the game, both teams battled in a tight contest. After a timeout, Georgia forced three Auburn turnovers to take a three-point lead. Deng later hit a deep 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one, but Auburn was unable to regain the lead.
Auburn lost its fifth straight game, falling to Georgia 62-59. The Tigers will play their final game of the regular season on Sunday, March 2, when they host Mississippi State. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
