Auburn women's basketball vs Arizona score, highlights: Tigers eliminated from March Madness

Cade Hampton, Tuscaloosa News

Thu, Mar 21, 2024, 9:27 PM·8 min read

Auburn women's basketball will take on Arizona in the First Four round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Storrs, Connecticut.

Both teams will have an 11-seed designation, with the winner advancing to play 6-seed Syracuse on Saturday, March 23. Both games will be played at the Harry A. Gampel Pavillion as the 3-seed UConn Huskies play host as the region's highest seed.

Auburn went 20-11 in coach Johnnie Harris' third season and is dancing for the first time since 2019. They were 8-8 in SEC play, placing seventh in the conference, and advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals where they lost to defending national champion LSU.

Arizona went 17-15 and also finished seventh in its conference with an 8-10 Pac-12 record. The Wildcats are making their fourth consecutive tournament appearance under coach and former player Adia Barnes.

More: Game time set for Auburn vs. Arizona in 2024 NCAA Women's Tournament First Four matchup

More: Why Auburn women's basketball can, can't reach Sweet 16 in 2024 March Madness predictions

Follow along here for live score updates from Auburn and Arizona's First Four matchup:

Auburn vs. Arizona women's basketball live score update in NCAA Tournament First Four

Auburn eliminated by Arizona

The final buzzer has sounded in Storrs. Auburn's season comes to a close with a 69-59 loss at the hands of Arizona. The Wildcats will advance to play 6-seed Syracuse on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Scott-Grayson fouls out

Scott-Grayson picked up her fifth foul with 2:03 remaining in the game and has likely seen her last college basketball action. Adia Barnes calls a timeout for Arizona as the Wildcats lead 64-59.

Auburn won't go away

The Tigers are fighting back, hitting four straight field goals. Arizona leads 60-55.

Arizona's Breya Cunningham fouls out

Cunningham picked up her fifth foul with 7:37 remaining in the game. Arizona leads 52-43. Auburn will look to take advantage of Arizona losing one of its top defenders.

Auburn trails Arizona heading into fourth quarter

Arizona holds a 10-point lead going into the final quarter, leading Auburn 49-39.

McKenna Eddings injured

Eddings took an inadvertent shot to the face as Arizona's Skylar Jones drove for a layup. She went to the locker room after spending a few seconds down on the court but returned shortly after.

Arizona answers immediately after timeout

Arizona hit two 3-pointers in three possessions after the timeout to end the Tigers run. The Wildcats lead 47-34 with about a minute left in the third quarter.

Auburn finally makes a 3, on 8-0 run

McKenna Eddings made Auburn's first 3-pointer of the game with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter. Auburn is on an 8-0 run and trails 40-31. Adia Barnes calls a timeout for Arizona.

Auburn fighting, drawing more fouls

The Tigers are holding on and being aggressive on offense. Martinez and Beh have both picked up their fourth foul after aggressive drives to the basket by Auburn. Arizona still leads, 40-28.

Foul trouble continues for Arizona

Martinez, Cunningham and Isis Beh have three fouls apiece. Arizona leads 35-23.

Honesty Scott-Grayson injured for Auburn

Scott-Grayson took a hard fall while chasing a loose ball into the Auburn bench in the first half. She landed awkwardly on her right hand and came out of the locker room with her thumb taped but is still active in the game.

Arizona's Esmery Martinez is red-hot

Martinez has been perfect for the Wildcats thus far: 4-for-4 shooting, 2-for-2 from three. She opens the second half scoring with a triple and two free throws. Arizona leads 32-19.

Auburn vs Arizona second half underway

The third quarter started at 7:20 p.m. CT. Auburn trails by eight.

Auburn vs Arizona halftime score

Arizona leads Auburn 27-19 at halftime.

Three-ball nonexistent for Auburn

Auburn has attempted just one 3-pointer, an air ball by Scott-Grayson. Arizona leads 27-19.

Arizona's Breya Cunningham in early foul trouble

Arizona forward Breya Cunningham, one of the Wildcats' key paint presences on both ends of the floor, picked up her third foul with three minutes remaining in the first half.

Auburn puts together its own run

After the media timeout, Auburn went on a 6-0 run to cut into Arizona's lead. Wildcats still up 20-16.

Yakiya Milton ends the run

Auburn forward Yakiya Milton ended the Tigers' scoring drought with a layup off of an assist from Mar'shaun Bostic. Arizona leads 20-12 at the media timeout with 4:58 remaining in the second quarter.

Turnovers a problem for Auburn

Auburn has 13 turnovers, which Arizona has turned into 11 points.

Arizona goes on a run

Arizona started the second quarter with a 9-2 run, including seven unanswered points. Johnnie Harris takes a timeout for Auburn with 6:06 left in the first half. Arizona leads 20-10.

Esmery Martinez gets Arizona started in the second

Esmery Martinez made her first field goal of the game to get the second quarter started. Arizona leads 13-8.

Auburn and Arizona in defensive battle after 1Q

Both teams played stout defense early on. Auburn shot 4-for-13 from the floor while Arizona went 4-for-12. Wildcats lead 11-8 heading to the second quarter.

Auburn starts cold

Through the game's first 5 minutes, Auburn shot 2-for-7 from the floor and turned the ball over four times. Arizona leads 8-4 at the first media timeout with 4:39 left in the first quarter.

Honesty Scott-Grayson puts the Tigers on the board

Scott-Grayson made the Tigers' first field goal at the 7:35 mark in the first quarter, a pull-up jumper from the wing. Arizona leads 4-2.

Auburn vs Arizona tips off

The Tigers and Wildcats started play at 6:11 p.m. CT.

Mar 8, 2024; Greensville, SC, USA; Auburn Tigers guard Kaitlyn Duhon (4) handles the ball against the LSU Lady Tigers during the second half at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

What channel is Auburn women's basketball vs. Arizona on today? How to watch, stream live

TV Channel: ESPN2
Streaming: Fubo (free trial)

Auburn women's basketball will tip off vs. Arizona on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. CT. The game can also be streamed live on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Streaming: Watch Auburn women's basketball vs. Arizona in the NCAA Tournament First Four on Fubo with a free trial

Auburn vs. Arizona start time, TV info, location

Time: 6 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN2
Location: Harry A. Gampel Pavillion, Storrs, Connecticut

Auburn women's basketball vs. Arizona preview

Auburn: The Tigers are making their first March Madness appearance since 2019 and their first appearance under coach Johnnie Harris, who has brought Auburn back to the Big Dance in her third season. Auburn's offense is led by first-team All-SEC guard Honesty Scott-Grayson, who averages 17.4 points per game. Defensively, the Tigers force turnovers at the 15th-highest rate in the nation.

Arizona: Arizona is making its fourth consecutive tournament appearance. The Wildcats made a run to the national championship game in 2021 but have not made it past the Round of 32 in the last two tournaments. They are led by All-Pac 12 and All-Pac 12 defensive selection Helena Pueyo.

Auburn vs. Arizona odds, betting line, spread

Odds according to BetMGM

Spread: Arizona -1.5 (-110), Auburn +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 127.5
Moneyline: Arizona -125, Auburn +105

Auburn women's basketball vs. Arizona prediction, game picks

Auburn 66, Arizona 62: These teams are evenly matched, which should create a close contest. Arizona is not a great 3-point shooting team, only hitting 31.4% of its shots from beyond the arc. If Auburn's stifling defense can limit the inside looks for the Wildcats and force them to rely on their shaky outside game, the Tigers should be able to control the tempo and physicality of the contest. Look for Scott-Grayson to take plenty of shots for the Tigers against a Wildcats defense that allows 65.8 points per game.

Auburn vs. Arizona injury updates

Auburn: Auburn is expected to have its main rotation fully healthy going into the tournament.
Arizona: The Wildcats lost freshman forward Montaya Dew to a knee injury in the preseason. In January, it was announced that two more players, sophomore forward Erin Tack and redshirt senior wing Salimatou Kourouma, would undergo season-ending surgeries. Kourouma averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds through 13 games. Furthermore, Kailyn Gilbert, Arizona's leading scorer at 15.1 points per game, is no longer with the team for undisclosed reasons.

Auburn vs. Arizona stats

Auburn

PPG: 66.6
PPG allowed: 58.5
FG%: 40.5%
3PT%: 29%

Arizona

PPG: 69.9
PPG allowed: 65.8
FG%: 44%
3PT%: 31.4%

Auburn vs. Arizona women's championship odds