Auburn Women’s Basketball Faces Ranked Test Against No. 23 Tennessee
Auburn women’s basketball returns to Neville Arena this Sunday to face a significant challenge as they host the No. 23 Tennessee Lady Volunteers, seeking to rebound from a recent SEC opener loss. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, with arena doors opening at 2 p.m., marking the beginning of the home stretch of the 2025-26 SEC schedule for the Tigers.
The Tigers (11-4, 0-1) are looking to regain momentum after falling to Mississippi State 75-53 on Thursday night. Despite the loss, Auburn saw the promising debut of junior forward Quanirah Montague, a transfer from Mississippi State, who provided an immediate spark with seven points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Tennessee (9-3, 1-0) enters the contest having secured a win over Florida in their SEC opener.
Tickets for the game are available at AUBTix.com and at the Neville Arena ticket office on game day. Fans can also explore SEC Sunday Mini-Plans, offering access to games against Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, and LSU. As always, members of Aubie’s Kids Club receive complimentary admission to all home women’s basketball games.
Airing Live: Radio and Television Coverage
Fans can tune in to the radio broadcast on ESPN 106.7 FM, beginning at 6:15 p.m. CT, with Brit Bowen and Larry DiChiara calling the action. The broadcast will also be available on AuburnTigers.com and the Auburn Athletics app. For viewers, the game will be televised on SEC Network, featuring commentary from Matt Schick and Andrea Lloyd.
Last Time Out: Tigers Struggle at Mississippi State
Auburn’s SEC opener at Humphrey Coliseum proved challenging, as Mississippi State pulled away in the second half to secure a 75-53 victory. Despite the setback, Kaitlyn Duhon showcased her defensive prowess, matching a career-high with seven steals alongside 10 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a block. Harissoum Coulibaly led the Tigers in scoring with 14 points and a pair of steals.
Montague’s debut was a bright spot, as she made an immediate impact with two blocked shots in the first quarter and finished with seven points, a team-leading seven rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
What a Win Means for Auburn
A victory over Tennessee would be significant for the Tigers on multiple fronts. It would improve Auburn’s home record to 8-1 this season and mark their second win over the Lady Volunteers in the last three meetings at Neville Arena. Perhaps most importantly, it would represent Auburn’s first win against a ranked opponent since the 2023-24 season.
Series History: A Challenging Matchup
This Sunday’s game marks the 63rd meeting between Auburn and Tennessee, dating back to 1980. Historically, the series has favored the Lady Volunteers, who hold a 50-12 overall record against the Tigers, including a 16-6 advantage in games played in Auburn.
The last encounter between the two teams, on February 13, 2025, in Knoxville, resulted in a 99-61 victory for No. 15 Tennessee. Despite a strong performance from Auburn’s DeYona Gaston, who recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 24 points and 12 rebounds, Tennessee’s depth and shooting efficiency proved too much to overcome. The Lady Vols shot 56% from the field and connected on a season-high 14 three-pointers, capitalizing on 21 Auburn turnovers to score 22 points.
Scouting the Lady Volunteers
Tennessee enters the game with a 9-3 overall record and a 1-0 mark in SEC play. The Lady Volunteers are currently ranked 27th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 80.9 points per game. They are particularly adept at three-point shooting, attempting 33.7 three-pointers per game (second in the NCAA) and making 10.0 per game (eighth in the NCAA).
Tennessee also excels in defensive statistics, ranking within the top 25 nationally in steals per game (17th – 13.2), rebounds per game (16th – 44.8), turnovers forced (20th – 22.75), and turnover margin (22nd – 7.0). Talaysia Cooper leads the Lady Volunteers in scoring with 14.7 points per game, closely followed by Janiah Barker with 14.2 points per game.
Scouting Auburn: Defensive Strength and Emerging Talent
Auburn boasts an 11-4 overall record, having dropped their SEC opener at Mississippi State. The Tigers are recognized for their defensive prowess, ranking 32nd nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 55.1 points per game. They also rank 29th nationally in steals per game (12.1) and 42nd in field goal percentage defense (36.0).
Freshman Harissoum Coulibaly has emerged as a key player for Auburn, averaging a team-best 11.1 points per game. She was named SEC Freshman of the Week on December 23 after averaging 15.0 points in wins over MTSU and Alcorn, and shoots a team-best 53.3% from the field. Redshirt junior Kaitlyn Duhon is a defensive standout, averaging 9.9 points per game and leading the team with 3.7 steals per game, ranking third in the SEC and eighth nationally. Sophomore Khady Leye provides consistent contributions, averaging 9.1 points and a team-best 5.4 rebounds.
The Tigers also benefit from the contributions of senior transfer Mya Petticord, who averages 10.8 points per game and boasts a 91.2% free-throw percentage, and junior forward Quanirah Montague, who made an immediate impact in her season debut.
Looking Ahead
Following Sunday’s game against Tennessee, Auburn will hit the road again to face the No. 2 Texas Longhorns on Thursday, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at the Moody Center.
