Alabama pulls away from Auburn 75-68 in SEC opener

Mar 2, 2022, 12:14 AM | Updated: 2:18 pm

Alabama's JaMya Mingo-Young, left, and Auburn's Amoura Graves reach for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Auburn head coach Johnnie Harris directs her players in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alabama at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Alabama head coach Kristy Curry directs her players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Auburn's Xaria Wiggins, center, drives against Alabama's Allie Craig Cruce, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Auburn's Mar'shaun Bostic (12) drives against Alabama's Hannah Barber (5) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Alabama's Brittany Davis, left, loses the ball as she drives against Auburn's Aicha Coulibaly (5) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Alabama's Jada Rice (31) blocks the path of Auburn's Xaria Wiggins (1) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday, March 2, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Megan Abrams scored 25 points, JaMya Mingo-Young and Brittany Davis had double-doubles and 11th-seeded Alabama turned back 14th-seeded Auburn 75-68 in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament on Wednesday.

Allie Craig Gruce, who had four 3-pointers this season, hit four in the game and scored a career-high 14 points for the Crimson Tide (16-12), who face sixth-seeded Georgia in the second round on Thursday. Davis scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Mingo-Young had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Honesty Scott Grayson scored 13 points and Annie Hughes 12 for the Tigers (10-18), who lost to Alabama twice in the regular season by a total of 10 points. They have lost eight-straight to their state rivals. Aicha Coulibaly and Sania Wells scored 10 each.

Auburn made just 6 of 19 from the field, missed four free throws and had five turnovers in the fourth quarter, when Alabama, which made 8 of 13, including two 3s, and 7 of 8 free throws, had a 25-15 scoring advantage.

Cruce 3-pointers opened and closed the Alabama scoring and she had three 3s in the first quarter that ended with the Tide up 22-15. The Tigers closed within 35-31 at the half.

Auburn shot 41% and went 14 of 28 from the foul line. Alabama shot 49% and was plus-9 rebounding to offset 22 turnovers.

More AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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