MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks women's basketball team (1-0) opened the 2026-27 season with a victory on Monday night, defeating the Shorter Hawks (0-1) at the AUM Athletics Complex to secure its first win of the season.
COMMENTS FROM COACH PHILLIPS
"It was a joy watching this team play hard and compete for each other. I am happy with the progress so far."
First Quarter
The Warhawks came out strong to open the season, with senior Naveah Small scoring AUM's first six points to give the team an early 6-0 advantage. Freshman Kamryn Kelly added to the lead with a layup off an assist from Small, as the Warhawks looked to establish an early offensive rhythm.
Shorter battled back to even the score before taking a 10-8 lead midway through the quarter. Small answered with back-to-back baskets to bring AUM even at 12-12, keeping the Warhawks within striking distance.
After the Hawks regained the lead, senior Ameyah Gray knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from Jaden Toney to tie the game at 15-15. Keziah Seay added a layup in the final seconds, also assisted by Toney, as AUM closed the opening quarter trailing 19-17.
Second Quarter
Shorter opened the second quarter with a fastbreak layup to extend its lead, but AUM quickly answered as Toney connected from beyond the arc off an assist from Tamora Brown, bringing them within one at 21-20.
The Hawks responded with another three-pointer, but the Warhawks continued to keep pace. With the score tied at 31-31 midway through the quarter, the Warhawks began to find their rhythm offensively.
Brown put AUM ahead with a fastbreak layup off an assist from Toney, while Kenna Kucholtz followed with a three-pointer to extend the advantage to 31-29. Small added a jumper before Brown scored another fastbreak layup and knocked down a three-pointer, all within a two-minute stretch. Brown capped the quarter with a tip-in and a three-pointer in the closing seconds, sending the Warhawks into halftime with a 43-31 lead.
Third Quarter
AUM carried its momentum into the second half, opening the third quarter with a tip-in from Brown before Amari Grant added a layup off another Brown assist to push the Warhawks' lead to 47-31. Brown continued to make an impact at the free-throw line, adding two more points to extend the advantage to 17.
After a stretch of back-and-forth play, Toney found the basket with a layup off an assist from Seay, keeping AUM in control. Shorter responded with a pair of baskets, but the Warhawks continued to answer at the line.
Kucholtz converted a free throw, while Seay added three more points from the stripe to help maintain the lead. Brown closed the quarter by knocking down two free throws, as AUM carried a 59-48 advantage into the final period.
Fourth Quarter
Shorter opened the final quarter with a 6-0 run to cut AUM's lead to 59-56, putting pressure on the Warhawks to respond. Brown ended the stretch with a free throw, and she followed with a layup to keep AUM in front.
The Hawks continued to chip away, eventually tying the game at 62-62 with just over five minutes remaining.
Small answered with a layup off an assist from Seay, while Gray added two free throws to give the Warhawks a four-point cushion. Shorter continued to fight back, trimming the margin to one before Grant scored a layup off an assist from Brown to make it 68-65. Brown added another layup to extend the lead, but the Hawks once again pulled within one at 70-69.
With just over a minute remaining, Grant converted a pair of free throws to put AUM ahead 72-71. Small came through with a key layup with 24 seconds left to push the advantage to three, and Grant added a final free throw to help seal the 75-71 season-opening victory for the Warhawks.
Notables
- Tamora Brown scored 23 points, made eight field goals and added four assists.
- Nevaeh Small finished with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
- Jaden Toney recorded nine assists, four steals and six rebounds.
- Amari Grant added 10 points and two steals.
- AUM scored 40 points in the paint and turned 23 Shorter turnovers into 24 points.
- The Warhawks outrebounded Shorter 46-45, including a 20-17 advantage on the offensive glass.
- AUM's bench contributed 17 points.
- The orange and black held their largest lead of the game at 18 points (51-33) in the third quarter.
Up Next
The Warhawks will hit the road for a neutral-site matchup against Rollins on Friday, Nov. 13, at noon CT in St. Leo, Fla. AUM will then face Saint Leo University on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon CT.
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