Nine games down. Five to go.

The Auburn women’s basketball team is closing in on the end of its season. And with five games remaining in the regular-season Southeastern Conference schedule, AU is on pace to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in head coach Nell Fortner’s four-year tenure.

But there’s no time for the Tigers to relax or rest on their laurels.

Auburn (17-7, 5-4 SEC) likely needs an 8-6 SEC record to ensure a postseason spot. The Tigers can assure themselves of an 8-6 finish by winning each of their three remaining games at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum, starting with today’s game against South Carolina (13-11, 2-7).

That means Auburn can’t afford a letdown.

“The most important part of this season is left,” Fortner said. “We can’t get soft or sloppy, we have to stay sharp. … That is very important. We just have to keep the train rolling right now.”

At least one Tiger is getting sharper as the season enters the home stretch. Junior DeWanna Bonner, AU’s leading scorer all season, has stepped up her game lately.

Bonner is averaging 23.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in Auburn’s last five games. The Tigers are 4-1 over that stretch.

“She just continues to play really good basketball, and we need that from her,” Fortner said.

Bonner is also stepping up her leadership. The 6-foot-4 junior spelled freshman Alli Smalley at point guard for long stretches Thursday against Alabama.

The move took some pressure off Smalley, who has struggled to run the offense and look for her own shot in SEC play. Bonner can sympathize.

“She’s a freshman, playing point guard,” Bonner said. “That’s a hard job. We’ve got to keep her confidence up.”

According to Fortner, confidence isn’t a problem for Smalley. The freshman scored 15 points against Alabama; despite a four-to-one assist-turnover ratio in that game, Fortner believes Smalley has turned the corner after a midseason decline.

Auburn needs Smalley to continue step up if the Tigers are to live up to their preseason expectations and make the NCAA Tournament.

“I really see her picking it up here pretty soon,” Fortner said. “I think she’s had her downward slump, and I really see her coming back to us at this point.”

If that’s true, it’s perfect timing: Just what Auburn needs.

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