Alverson reaches career milestone

Blanche Alverson joined an elite Auburn women’s basketball club Thursday night, as she scored her 1,000th career point in the Tigers’ 76-52 SEC victory over Ole Miss.

The Andalusia native became the 27th women’s player at Auburn to reach the milestone. For the game, she was 5-for-9 from the perimeter, scored a season-high 23 points, and added nine rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Alverson needed only six points to reach the 1,000-point mark. All six came early in the game and came on three-pointers.

“It was really fun,” the senior said about reaching the career mark. “It was a great way to rebound from a (82-76) loss (to Missouri on) Sunday and come back and win a home game in the SEC.”

Auburn improved to 13-3 overall, and 2-1 in SEC, with the win over the Rebels.

From the start of the game, Alverson said the Tigers played good defense, which utilized her team to take advantage on fast breaks on the offensive end.

“We had different players getting different looks,” she said. “We were clicking on all cylinders (Thursday night). Once they thought somebody was going, somebody else was starting off. It was just a good night for everybody.”

Alverson said she didn’t find out about breaking her career mark until the first media timeout.

“I got it within the first few minutes of the game and they announced it to the crowd,” she said. “They were excited.”

Already, Alverson is having quite a senior year for the Tigers. She’s started in all 16 games for Auburn this season and is shooting 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point range.

Grabbing a total of 94 rebounds to lead the team, Alverson averages 5.9 per game.

Alverson said a goal this season for her is to try to get to the 2013 Women’s NCAA Tournament.

“That’s something that I’ve never done,” she said. “That would be a great way to go out to make it to the NCAA tournament this year.

“I’ve just been trying to focus on that for the team and being a leader by example, and a leader by voice on the court,” she said. “I’ve just let the game come to me, and not trying to force too much and be a great team player.”

Alverson and the Tigers will be back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. when they will face Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. The Aggies (12-5, 2-1 SEC) are coming off a 65-62 road loss to No. 6 Kentucky.

“It’s going to be fun to go to College Station,” Alverson said. “I’ve never been there. I’m looking forward to it.”

Blanche is the daughter of Bill and Cindy Alverson.