March 7, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Scouting Auburn
Auburn earned its 20th win of the season yesterday with a 73-51 victory over Arkansas in the first
round of the SEC Tournament. It is the second straight year the Tigers have reached the 20-win
plateau. Auburn advanced to the second round of the SEC Tournament for the third time in Nell
Fortner's four years and face No. 21 Vanderbilt, who has won the last 12 meetings with Auburn.
Auburn will count on First Team All-SEC selection and All-America nominee DeWanna Bonner to
lead the team on both sides of the ball; a task she has accomplished 13 times this season.
Bonner averages 18.3 points, second best in the SEC, and an SEC best 10.1 rebounds a game.
Inside league play she has stepped it up offensively, turning in 19.3 points per contest. Also
ranked in the top 10 in the SEC in scoring is Sherell Hobbs, who averages 13.5 points a game
(15.3 in SEC games), while leading the team with 71 steals on the year. SEC All-Freshman team
member, Alli Smalley also averages in double digits with 10.9 points a game, which is good
enough for top 25 in the SEC (second best freshman scorer in the league). Auburn is averaging
70.4 points a game, while limiting its opponents to 59.8 points. The Tigers make 42.9 percent
of its shots overall and 33.0 percent from long range. Auburn outrebounds its opponents by an
SEC best 6.5 margin (40.7 to 34.2), while averaging 10.1 steals and 4.8 blocks a game.
Scouting Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is looking to defend its SEC title from a year ago. The Commodores are currently on
a three-game win streak, which includes a victory over Auburn just over a week ago, 73-56. No.
21 Vanderbilt, the No. 3 seed in the tourney, is led by First Team All-SEC selection Christina Wirth,
who averages 13.4 points a game. Inside SEC play, Wirth has extended that to 13.6 points per
contest. She leads the SEC from long range as she makes 43.8 percent of her shots. Liz
Sherwood also averages in double figures with 11.5 points a game. Second Team All-SEC selection
and member of the All-Defensive Team, Jennifer Risper leads the Commodores on the other
side, with 6.0 rebounds per game. Risper also has an improved average in SEC play as she grabs
6.5 per contest. As a team, the Commodores have produced the SEC's second best offensive
output, 72.9 points a game. Vanderbilt is making a league best 47.4 percent of its shots and an
SEC best 40.1 percent of its three-pointers. The Commodores grab 36.6 rebounds a game, for
a 3.1 advantage over its opponents. Vanderbilt is coached by Melanie Balcomb, who is in her
sixth season at Vanderbilt (143-50).
Series Record
Vanderbilt holds the all-time series advantage 19-16 over Auburn and has won the last 12 meetings.
The last time Auburn defeated the Commodores was Jan. 16, 2000 in Nashville. The series
is tied at three when playing at a neutral site. The last time the teams met at a neutral site was
March 5, 2004, at the SEC Tournament in Nashville. Vanderbilt won that game 76-74. Auburn's
last win over Vanderbilt at a neutral site was March 21, 1991 in the second round of the NCAA
Tournament (58-45). Nell Fortner is 0-5 vs. the Commodores.
Last Time Out
Auburn went on a 20-3 run late in the second half to claim a 74-57 victory over Arkansas March
2 in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. Junior Sherell Hobbs and freshman Alli Smalley led the
Tigers offensively down the stretch with 31 combined second half points. Four Tigers scored in
double-digits, led by Smalley and Hobbs, who put up 17 and 16, respectively. DeWanna Bonner
scored in double figures for the 10th straight game, netting 15. Sophomore Jordan Greenleaf
turned in a season best 14 points, while adding 10 rebounds, earning her first double-double of
the season.
Up Next
The winner of this game will play the winner of No. 2-seeded Tennessee vs. either No. 10-seeded
South Carolina or No. 7-seeded Florida at 8 p.m. CT on Saturday.
