Auburn Women’s Basketball Struggles in Birmingham as Ole Miss Dominates on the Boards
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Auburn came out of the gates hot, knocking down five of their first six shots and jumping to a quick 10-4 lead. But from that point on, it was all Ole Miss. The 13th-ranked Rebels flipped the script with a dominant effort on the glass and a sharp shooting night, cruising to a 71-45 win over the Tigers in a rare neutral-site SEC matchup at Legacy Arena.
Harissoum Coulibaly was the lone bright spot offensively for Auburn, finishing with 11 points - the only Tiger in double figures. Kaitlyn Duhon chipped in nine, while Khady Leye and Ja’Mia Harris each added eight. Leye also made her presence felt defensively with a career-high five blocks.
But the real story of the night was Auburn’s struggles on both ends of the floor, particularly when it came to rebounding and shot-making. The Tigers shot just 32.1 percent from the field and hit only one shot from beyond the arc. That kind of shooting night is tough to overcome against any opponent - let alone a top-15 team - and Ole Miss made sure to capitalize.
“We’ve got to do a better job of playing defense without fouling,” said Auburn head coach Larry Vickers. “You could clearly see the rebounding battle, that was disappointing. Ole Miss created second- and third-chance opportunities for themselves, and they did a good job attacking the basket.”
Vickers wasn’t exaggerating. Ole Miss out-rebounded Auburn by a staggering 51-23 margin, turning those extra possessions into points and momentum. The Rebels shot 49.1 percent from the field and were aggressive in the paint, forcing the Tigers into foul trouble and keeping Auburn on its heels for most of the night.
Despite the lopsided result, Auburn’s defense did manage to generate some pressure. The Tigers tallied 14 steals, converting 15 Ole Miss turnovers into 12 points. But those flashes of defensive energy couldn’t offset the offensive drought that plagued them after their hot start.
After taking that early 10-4 lead, Auburn went ice cold - scoreless for the rest of the first quarter. Ole Miss took full advantage, closing the period on an 18-0 run to lead 22-10 after 10 minutes. The shooting woes continued into the second quarter, and by halftime, Auburn trailed 35-19.
Ole Miss was led by Cotie McMahon, who poured in 20 points, while Christeen Iwaula added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds - a performance that helped underscore the Rebels’ dominance on the interior.
A crowd of 3,787 took in the action in Birmingham, taking advantage of free admission for what turned out to be a showcase of Ole Miss’s depth, rebounding prowess, and ability to control a game once they find their rhythm.
For Auburn, it’s back to the drawing board - particularly when it comes to rebounding and finding offensive consistency. The Tigers showed flashes of potential early, but against a team like Ole Miss, flashes aren’t enough. They’ll need to turn those moments into sustained stretches if they want to compete in the grind of SEC play.