Florida will need to pick up its play on the road if it hopes to bounce back from a loss in its conference opener, when the Lady Gators face Auburn on Sunday.

The 15th-ranked (10-4) Lady Gators lost their SEC opener 88-64 to No. 2 Tennessee on Thursday. Florida now travels to Auburn, where it is just 2-10 all-time.

Vanessa Hayden had 15 points, nine rebounds and five blocked shots to lead the Lady Gators on Thursday. Hayden is averaging 18.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 7.5 blocked shots over her last four games. She leads the team with 19 points and 12.6 rebounds per contest.

Brandi McCain, second on the Lady Gators with 16.5 points per game, struggled against Tennessee, recording 12 points on 4 of 17 shooting.

After making its first two shots for a 4-3 lead, Florida missed 23 of its next 29 and shot 25.8 percent in the first half against Tennessee. The Lady Gators were outrebounded 54-34.

Florida had won six straight, a stretch in which it defeated opponents by an average of 28.6 points.

The 17th-ranked Tigers (12-1) haven't played since Dec. 30, when they defeated Texas-San Antonio 73-50 in the consolation game of the Surf-N-Slam Hoop Classic.

Auburn's prior game was its only loss of the season, an 80-75 overtime loss No. 4 Iowa State on Dec. 28.

The Tigers are holding opponents to 53.8 points per game and a 35 percent field-goal percentage.

This if Auburn's first conference game.

``I like who we are in terms of people and team work, defensively, team defense and offense, it's a matter of now coming together and executing and valuing every possession when you play an SEC opponent,'' Tigers coach Joe Ciampi said. ``Anytime you are healthy with the people you started the season with, anytime they have improved their ability to play as a team and the strength and physical condition they are in and hopefully great mental condition, we could not ask for a situation better than right now. We are ready to play.''

Auburn leads the all-time series 24-9. Florida, though, has won five of nine following an 18-game losing streak. The Lady Gators won last year's meeting 72-58 on Jan. 18 in Gainesville, Fla.