The Auburn women’s basketball team has a chance to make a little bit of history today against Alabama.

A win would give head coach Nell Fortner’s Tigers a winning record in Southeastern Conference play, at 5-4. It’s not an earth-shattering achievement — first-place LSU is already 9-0 — but it’s historic nonetheless.

Auburn has never had a winning record in SEC play in Fortner’s four-season tenure. And while the achievement would be satisfying for Fortner and her players, it would only be the beginning.

Having a winning record — and keeping it that way — would be huge for the Tigers (16-7, 4-4 SEC).

Fortner has twice coached her AU teams to 6-8 SEC finishes, but both teams just missed the NCAA Tournament.

Seven wins this season will give Auburn a compelling NCAA tourney resume. Eight wins make it all but impossible for the NCAA selection committee to leave the Tigers out.

“I think you’ve got to be .500 to have a chance, but I think 8-6, they don’t have a choice,” Fortner said. “That’s just my opinion. That’s what I see.

“To go along with the wins we’ve had this year, and the season we’ve had, I think we take it out of their hands at 8-6. It’s in their hands at 7-7.”

With six games remaining in SEC play, the Tigers have to take care of business, especially at home.

“It’s coming down to the nitty-gritty now,” Fortner said. “We’ve got to get to .500 or above.”

Auburn lost a winnable game at Florida last weekend, further tightening an already slim margin for error. The Tigers bounced back with a win at Arkansas last Sunday, but need to win today’s game to keep up a postseason-worthy pace.

“It’s huge,” Fortner said of today’s game. “And then you put the fact on top of that that it’s Alabama, that makes it even more important. We’ll be ready. We’re looking forward to it.”
Alabama (8-16, 1-8 SEC) has struggled this season under third-year head coach Stephany Smith. The Crimson Tide has lost eight consecutive SEC games, including a 62-48 loss to Auburn in Tuscaloosa.

Today’s game begins at 6 p.m. and will not be televised.

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