LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The Auburn University at Montgomery women's basketball team (3-23; GSC: 3-17) fell to the West Alabama Tigers (13-11; GSC: 11-10) in their final road game of the season at the Pruitt Hall Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
First Quarter
The Warhawks came out strong in the opening quarter, jumping ahead early after winning the tip. Samya Brooks set the tone with a jumper and later added a second-chance bucket to help AUM build a 4-0 lead. Navaeh Small converted a tip-in layup to extend the advantage to 6-0. After the West Alabama Tigers got on the board, Brooks answered with another jumper to make it 10-4. Andie Flatgard knocked down a three-pointer to stretch the lead to 13-4, and Brooks added a free throw to push it to 14-4.
Flatgard connected from deep again late in the quarter to give AUM a double-digit cushion. West Alabama closed with a late bucket, but the Warhawks maintained control, closing out the first quarter of the game with a 17-9 advantage.
Second Quarter
West Alabama chipped into the lead early in the second quarter, converting four straight free throws to cut AUM's advantage to 17-12. Shelby McAlister scored her first bucket of the game with a second-chance layup to make it 19-12. The Tigers continued to close the gap, eventually trimming it to 21-20 midway through the period.
Jaden Toney knocked down two free throws to push the Warhawks back in front 23-20, but West Alabama responded with a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 25-23 with a little over 5 minutes left to play in the half. The Tigers stretched the margin to 27-23 before Small scored inside off an assist from Flatgard to stop the run.
After trading baskets, West Alabama built its largest lead of the half at 35-27. Samya Brooks added a free throw, and in the final seconds, Flatgard buried her third three-pointer of the night to cut into the deficit. AUM trailed 37-31 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Auburn Montgomery came out aggressive to start the third quarter, cutting into the deficit quickly. Keziah Seay opened the scoring with a second-chance tip-in, and moments later Flatgard buried a fast-break three off a steal by Samya Brooks to pull AUM within one at 37-36.
Brooks then finished a layup and Flatgard converted a second-chance jumper to tie the contest at 40-40 midway through the quarter. The first tie of the game. The teams traded baskets from there, with Ameyah Gray and Brooks each scoring inside to knot the game again at 44-44.
West Alabama responded with a 10-0 run stretching the lead to 54-44 with just over a minute remaining. Flatgard stopped the surge with her fourth three-pointer of the night, and fifth made three for AUM in the game, cutting the margin to seven. Heading into the final period, AUM trailed 56-47.
Fourth Quarter
AUM opened the fourth quarter with a bucket from Brooks, trimming the deficit to 56-49 after an offensive rebound by McAlister. West Alabama push the lead back to double digits at 63-49. Flatgard knocked down a pair of free throws, and Navaeh Small added a second-chance tip-in to keep AUM within striking distance at 65-53 midway through the quarter.
Brooks continued to attack, converting four straight free throws, but the Tigers answered again with points in the paint and at the stripe to build its largest lead of the night at 77-57. Flatgard added a late driving layup, but the AUM Warhawks fell, 79-62.
Notables
Samya Brooks led AUM with 26 points, adding 9 rebounds, while shooting 10-of-17 from the field.
Andie Flatgard finished with 17 points, including 5 made three-pointers, and also added 4 assists.
Nevaeh Small contributed 15 points, 8 rebounds, and had 3 offensive rebounds.
AUM shot 34.9% (22-of-63) from the field and 23.8% (5-of-21) from three-point range while shooting 81.3% (13-of-16) from the free throw line.
The Warhawks scored 22 points in the paint and added 17 second-chance points.
AUM also generated 19 points off turnovers and the bench contributed 4 points in the contest.
Up Next
The Warhawks will come back home to play against Valdosta State at the AUM Athletics Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 pm.
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