AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn women’s basketball played a statement game Wednesday night against the Columbus State Cougars. The Tigers defeated the Cougars, outscoring them 106 to 44. This was Auburn’s second and final win on its exhibition schedule, after beating UCF last week.
Auburn’s offense was aggressive Wednesday night, converting 28 forced turnovers into over 40 points on the board for the Tigers. Auburn shot 65.2% from the floor, compared to Columbus State’s just 25.9% from the field.
Auburn standout veteran guard Kaitlyn Duhon led the team with 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Duhon led the offense and encouraged teammates like freshman Ashley Knox to come off the bench and play aggressively with the ball. Knox added 16 points herself, adding to Auburn’s depth.
The first half gave the Tigers an early lead and the confidence they needed going into the second. However, these impressive performances came with struggles to maintain possession and prevent turnovers.
Head Coach Larry Vickers noted their inconsistency with the ball and making untimely mistakes. These mistakes not only became costly on the scoreboard, but hurt positive team momentum.
Although Auburn was impressive throughout the game, they had an exceptional third-quarter performance, outscoring the Cougars 35-5. The team was able to dominate on both ends of the court, highlighting their significant offensive and defensive advantage.
This success carried into the fourth quarter, with the Tigers finishing the game 106-44.
Auburn’s ability to capitalize on turnovers and spread offensive production among multiple players showed the team's potential heading into the regular season.
With exhibition play complete, the Tigers will play their first regular season game this Monday at Neville Arena against Alabama State. Auburn will look to build on their offensive success while improving ball security and consistency as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
