Alabama guard Daisha Simmons (0) shoots against Auburn center Peyton Davis (34) during the first half. (AP photo by Michelle Lepianka Carter of The Tuscaloosa News)
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Alabama’s Shafontaye Myers poured in a career-high 23 points to lift the Crimson Tide over rival Auburn 61-51 on Thursday night.
Her two 3-point shots sparked a 17-5 run in the last 7:53 of the first half, giving Alabama a 30-20 halftime lead and propelling the Tide to the win.
“I came in with confidence, I felt good like I do before every game,” Myers said. “I was like ‘If you get me the ball, I’m going to knock it down.’ ”
The run saw Alabama’s Alicia Mitcham come down with six rebounds, one on the offensive side that resulted in two second-chance points. Auburn’s biggest threat, Blanche Alverson, was limited to 1-of-4 shooting in the same span as Auburn scored a season low in points.
“On the defensive end of the floor, I could feel it from the beginning of the game,” Alabama coach Wendell Hudson said. “We did a good job of making the extra pass.”
The Tide had to fight through a severe shooting drought early in the first half, making only three of its first 17 field goal attempts. Correcting those mistakes helped Alabama tie its season high for 3-pointers by making nine on 27 attempts.
One of Auburn’s leading scorers, junior Tyrese Tanner, was contained to seven points, which is six below her average.
Alabama (12-7, 2-4 SEC) will make a return to trip to Auburn (13-7, 2-5 SEC) on Feb. 17, a game set to be televised on ESPN2.
Contributed by Brett Hudson
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