Auburn Hosts #5 South Carolina for Conference Home Opener

Katie Frerking (Photo: Auburn Athletics/Anthony Hall)

Fresh off of a hot start to 2017, and the SEC slate, Auburn Women’s Basketball (11-4, 1-0) returns to Auburn Arena Thursday night to face the 5th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks (11-1, 1-0) in the SEC home opener. In their conference opener, Brandy Montgomery and Katie Frerking each contributed greatly in Auburn’s 82-75 win over Florida in Gainesville New Year’s Day. Montgomery ended the night with 26 points and was 7-8 from beyond the arc. Sunday’s win also provided a key moment in the career of Katie Frerking. Frerking needed just ten points entering the game with Florida to surpass the 1,000-point mark in her career… she ended with 24. She also had 10 rebounds, which was the fifth time this season that the Senior has recorded a double-double. The South Carolina Gamecocks led by Coach Dawn Staley enter the game ranked fifth in the nation, and are the winners of five straight. The only blemish on their 11-1 record was a loss to Duke on December 4, 74-63. Three key players to watch this game are Alaina Coates, A’ja Wilson, and Kaela Davis. Coates averages 15 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest and shoots 69% from the field. The Gamecocks leading scorer is Wilson with 16.9 PPG, and Davis is shooting 41.3% from beyond the arc. South Carolina defeated Alabama at home on Sunday, 93-45 to open conference play. Auburn fell in their last contest against South Carolina, 57-48 on March 4 in the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks currently hold a five-game winning streak, with their last loss to the Tigers coming in 2012. Auburn leads the series 21-20, with a 12-8 mark at home. Auburn battles South Carolina Thursday evening at 6 P.M. inside Auburn Arena.