AUBURN, Ala.— A’riel Jackson delivered a standout performance for Auburn, scoring a career-high 19 points, but the Tigers were unable to overcome a 10-point deficit in the second half, ultimately losing to No. 16 Oklahoma 72-65 at Neville Arena on Sunday.
Auburn head coach Larry Vickers expressed his disappointment but remained proud of his team’s competitive spirit throughout the game. “We want to be a team that’s undefeated at Neville. We want to take care of home court. That Oklahoma team is really good. They lead our league in assists and rebounding. Our group did a good job of competing. I’m happy with the way we fought and competed for the entirety of the game. I’m proud of my group but we don’t believe in moral victories,” Vickers noted.
After trailing by 10 in the third quarter, Auburn rallied back thanks to Ja’Mia Harris, who scored seven consecutive points to narrow the deficit to just three. However, Oklahoma’s late push secured a 53-48 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the closing period, Jackson started strong by scoring Auburn’s first seven points, bringing the Tigers within two points of the Sooners. Coulibaly showcased her talent as well, tying the score at 57-57, which energized the home crowd.
Despite having opportunities to reclaim the lead, Auburn struggled to convert crucial possessions. Oklahoma took advantage of the situation with a 6-0 run, and Auburn found themselves scoreless for nearly four minutes until Kaitlyn Duhon broke the drought with a layup, pulling the Tigers within four points with just over a minute left. Duhon also contributed on the boards, leading the team with eight rebounds.
Aaliyah Chavez proved to be a pivotal player for Oklahoma, knocking down four 3-pointers and finishing with 18 points. This loss marked a challenging but competitive game for Auburn, which now prepares to face another ranked opponent, No. 2 South Carolina, on Thursday at 8 p.m. CT.
Vickers acknowledged the tough competition in the league, stating, “There are no days off in this league. Our team understands that. We can compete and hopefully those competes start to turn into Ws.” The Tigers are determined to improve and capitalize on future opportunities, maintaining a hopeful outlook despite this setback.