In the first game of the Las Vegas Innovational from the Mirage Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Auburn Tigers Women's basketball (3-2) lost the first of two games to the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers (6-0); as the Tigers were unable to keep up with the Hoosier attack falling 96-81.
Despite the loss Auburn had one of their best night of the field having an 42% conversion rate on 69 attempts from the field, which was still not enough as Indiana shot 54% from the field on 61 attempts.
Aichia Coulibaly and Honesty Scott-Grayson were the Tiger point leader with 22 apiece, totaling just over half the Tigers 81 points.
The Hoosier's Mackenzie Holmes was their points leader with 26 points getting a double-double in the process with 12 rebounds and going perfect from the floor going 10-10.
Auburn kept close throughout the matchup, but it was a second period that saw Auburn being outscored 26-16 and shooting 30% from the field that helped secure the win for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Even still Auburn was only down eight going into the fourth period, Indiana rode an 28 point period to eventually beat the Tigers 96-81.
The loss marks the first time the Tigers have ever loss to the Hossiers winning in 2016 and 2017, this matchup being the first time they have played in a neutral site.
"I was a little disappointed in some of the undisciplined plays that we made, but for the most part, I thought our kids battled," Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris. "And that's what I want them to do. I wanted them to battle and have a chance at the end, and I thought they did that."
Auburn has one more game to be played in The Mirage that will be against the Colorado State Rams at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Tiger 95.9 FM.
