Auburn's women's basketball team's first home test won't be an easy one. The No. 20 Tigers play their home-opener against Temple tonight at 6 at Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum.
The Owls return three starters from a team that went 21-13 last season, won the Atlantic 10 championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They beat Bowling Green 70-55 in their season-opener last Friday, giving first-year coach Tonya Cordoza a victory in her debut.
Auburn also opened its season Friday, rolling to a 91-53 victory at Alabama A&M.
Cordoza moved to Temple after 14 seasons as an assistant at national powerhouse Conneciticut. She replaced Dawn Staley, who left to take over as head coach at South Carolina.
Senior DeWanna Bonner, the preseason pick for Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, scored 25 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had six steals as Auburn opened Nell Fortner's fifth season as head coach with an easy victory.
The Tigers unveiled their new fast-paced offense against the Bulldogs.
"It was hard for us to get into a rhythm, but it was probably because I was trying out a lot of different combinations of players," Fortner said. "We are playing at such a fast tempo that I have to sub a lot, so we are going to have to get used to it.
"We have to get used to people coming in and out and not losing that offensive flow and you just have to get some games under your belt to do that."
Tickets for Auburn women's games are $5. There is no admission for Auburn students.
