Tennessee Lady Vols basketball vs. Auburn: Score prediction, scouting report
Lady Vols basketball hits the road for the second straight game to kick off SEC play.
Tennessee (7-5) faces Auburn (11-2) in Neville Arena on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, SEC Network+). The Lady Vols are coming off a 90-55 win on the road at Liberty on Sunday and the Tigers are coming off a 79-58 win over North Alabama.
Here's what you need to know about Tennessee's first SEC matchup.
Auburn has strong defensive identity
Auburn has consistently been a strong defensive team in the SEC, and this season is no different. The Tigers force 22.1 turnovers per game and score an average of 24.2 points off them. They allow only 52.8 points per game, which ranks 12th in the country, according to Her Hoop Stats.
Almost half of the turnovers Auburn forces are steals (11.2 per game), led by Mar'shaun Bostic's two per game. Taking care of the ball, sharp passing and making quick, smart decisions under pressure will be key for Tennessee to win the game. The Lady Vols' offense is back on track with Rickea Jackson back in the starting lineup, but they can't afford to lose 20 possessions due to turnovers.
Auburn does average 15.2 turnovers of its own, and with Tennessee's full-court press, it could turn the tables on the Tigers and give them a taste of their own medicine.
Tigers will look to score in the paint
Auburn is not a great 3-point shooting team. It averages 12.9 attempts and makes only 3.9 per game. Sophomore guard Sydney Shaw leads the team in attempts (52) and made 3-pointers (18). Graduate guard Honesty Scott-Grayson is right behind with 13 made 3-pointers on 46 attempts this season.
But just because Auburn doesn't take a high volume of 3-pointers doesn't mean it can't help them. In the Tigers' win over Washington State, they went 5-for-10 from 3-point range. The efficient shooting from deep boosted them to a 69-62 win.
The Tigers still put up 70 points per game, and they'll look to score in the paint – especially with their guards' ability to get to the free throw line. Auburn is led by veteran guards in scoring, with Scott-Grayson averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game.
A game that sets the tone for SEC play for Tennessee
The first conference game is important for the Lady Vols, who struggled in their nonconference schedule without Jackson available for most of it. But with Jackson back and senior center Tamari Key getting her game stamina back, SEC play is a chance to start fresh.
With the losses Tennessee took in nonconference play, a strong showing in conference play is crucial. This first matchup with Auburn can set the tone for SEC play, and the Lady Vols need to take advantage of the opportunity to build momentum with a road win.
ROAD WIN: Lady Vols basketball has best performance of season in 90-55 win over Liberty before SEC play
Score prediction
Tennessee 82, Auburn 68: I don't think the score margin will reflect how competitive the game is, but with the way Tennessee is shooting, I expect it to win by double figures. The Lady Vols' full-court press has re-energized their defense and Auburn doesn't have the 3-point shooting to keep up with Tennessee.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lady Vols basketball vs. Auburn: Score prediction, scouting report
