Not everyone has the ability to stop what they’re doing and watch a two hour basketball game in the middle of a work day, so the hope is to provide positive thoughts on today’s game for our readers.
Yes, Alyssa Ervin is the primary focus of the game, but Hoops are a team sport, so you report on the team as a whole.
Two things to focus on today are the point spread and the attendance. The point spread is not for betting purposes but a fair way to guage how the Paladins faired at games end. The line today is 25.5, so we will tuck that away for now.
Why does the suze of the crowd matter ? Just because it is an SEC school doesn’t guarantee a large crowd, especially when the tip is early on in the day. But it should have an impact on the atmosphere just the same. You schedule a game like this for the experience gained from playing on a bigger stage and against a more physical opponent.
4:35 – Media TO with the score Auburn 9, Furman 4. Raina McGowens has all four points for the ‘Dins. One of the big goals is to not get run out of the gym in the opening minutes, so the rest of the quarter will be key.
Ervin ties it at 9-9 with a basket out of a double team, a steal and a layup !TO Auburn
End of 1st quarter – Furman 13, Auburn 12 !!!!
You can tell it’s Youth Day as they are recognizing all of the elementary schools during the break.
Furman leads 18 – 16 at the second Media TO !
Ervin buries a deep 3 to go along with her 1 of 2 from the free throw line earlier in the quarter. Furman 21 – 16 !!!
Coach Pierre Curtis has to love ❤️ the defensive effort that he is reaching from his squad up to this point.
Auburn University closed out the rest of the first half on a 10 – 0 run and lead 26 – 21 at the break.
Earlier, they announced 4,500 in the crowd, but we don’t know if that is the number of young ones or overall ?
Side note 📝 – the offensive foul called on Ervin in the second quarter was the very definition of a touch foul…..
Great effort so far, 20 minutes left to play – stay tuned.
3RD Quarter :
Auburn pushed their run out to 19-0 before Pearl drilled a 3 – pointer to end the streak. But immediately after that, Coyle picked up her fourth foul, and Ervin was whistled for an F1. The game was already playing physically, and now Auburn has amped it up even more.
We are at the Media TO now at 5:51, 35-24 AU
End of a long, long 3rd quarter, Auburn leads 52 – 35 after winning the frame 26-12. Stick a pin 📌 in the moment when Furman pulled within 43-33. Ervin hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to put her at 14 for the game.
Coyle and Pearl both with 4 fouls…18 fouls in the 3rd quarter
4TH QUARTER :
Media TO at 4:57, deficit at 62 – 46
The official crowd announced at 7, 113
Coyle added 6 points in a hurry, and Ervin added 5 more (19 now), but both have four fouls.
Furman won that stretch, 11-10, proving that they are still playing hard.
Throughout the game I had Alyssa with one more foul than the announcers did and being she sat out the last 4:57, I’m guessing that I was correct.
AUBURN 74, FURMAN 56 (F)
Clare Coyle played smart down the stretch, avoiding her fifth foul and finishing up with a game high 22 points. Ervin finished with 19, giving the duo 41 points for the morning / early afternoon.
The team returns to action 🎬 on Saturday versus Campbell.
I would think that Coach Curtis has to be pleased with the effort, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The no back down mentality was on full display !!!
