AUBURN, Ala. – DeYona Gaston exploded for 30 points, but it wasn’t enough as Auburn suffered a tough 85-58 loss to No. 25 Ole Miss in their SEC opener on Thursday at Neville Arena.
“We’ve faced a lot of adversity this week,” said Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris, noting her team practiced with just six healthy players. “We need to get healthy so we can translate our practice effort into games.”
Gaston, the nation’s sixth-leading scorer, had a standout performance, going 8-of-15 from the field and an impressive 14-for-17 from the free-throw line, marking her third 30-point game of the season. “She’s the bright spot,” Harris said. “She carried us tonight, but we need to get her some help.”
Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin praised Gaston’s versatility, calling her a “tough matchup” with “guard-like skills” and great touch around the rim.
However, Auburn struggled with turnovers, racking up 29 while only registering seven assists. The Rebels capitalized, outscoring the Tigers 37-10 off turnovers.
Auburn trailed 45-20 at halftime but showed fight, cutting the deficit to 16 in the fourth quarter. Still, Ole Miss responded with a 15-2 run to seal the win.
Next up, Auburn faces No. 6 LSU in Baton Rouge on Sunday, aiming to bounce back from this tough loss.
