BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Auburn women’s basketball opened its exhibition schedule with a gritty 65-59 victory over UCF on Wednesday at Boutwell Auditorium. The Tigers led 24-6 after the first quarter before holding off a second-half comeback by the Knights to win 65-59.
Auburn set the tone from the opening tip, jumping out to a dominant 10-0 run by controlling the fast break and offensive glass. Junior guard Ja’Mia Harris set the pace early for the Tigers, scoring eight of the team's first 10 points while pulling down two early rebounds.
After a slow start from behind the arc, Auburn found its rhythm from deep late in the opening quarter. The Tigers missed their first four three-point attempts before knocking down three in a row. Capitalizing on five early UCF turnovers and converting defensive possessions into fast-break points, Auburn extended its run to an overwhelming 20-1. By the end of the first quarter, the Tigers held a 24-6 lead.
The momentum shifted at the start of the second quarter as UCF came out strong. The Knights forced quick turnovers and converted on high-percentage looks to put together an 8-3 run early. UCF outscored Auburn 18-12 in the second quarter, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 36-24 at halftime.
UCF continued to chip away after halftime, eventually erasing the deficit and tying the game at 49-49 midway through the fourth. Auburn responded under pressure when Kaitlyn Duhon hit a corner three with 3:42 remaining to break a 53-53 tie and put the Tigers ahead for good. Duhon also dominated on defense with 4 steals and 3 blocks, leading Auburn in forced turnovers.
Harris finished as the game's highest scorer with 23 points and 6 rebounds, while sophomore Danielle Osho added 12 points and six rebounds with a strong presence in the paint.
Auburn will return home to Neville Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 28, to face the Columbus State Cougars.
