It took Auburn about a half to find its footing after the surprise departure of senior forward Jordan Greenleaf last week, a 16-point first half on the road against LSU, to be exact.

“We had to figure out how to play without Jordan,” Tigers coach Nell Fortner said. “She was a big part of our offense and our defense. The first 20 minutes we weren’t comfortable. You just don’t lose a player like that and not have some adjustments to make.”

Auburn showed signs of moving on in the second half, hitting three 3-pointers in the final 1:06 against LSU and coming up short.

And, with a second-half spurt to put away Arkansas in a near must-win game for their NCAA Tournament hopes three days later, the Tigers look like they’ve turned a corner.

“Jordan was one of those players that did kind of everything,” guard Alli Smalley said. “All that does, not having her, it gives other players opportunities to step up. That’s what we’re all having to do.”

Smalley especially.

The lone senior left on Auburn’s roster is averaging 18.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in the two games since Greenleaf’s departure, shooting 50 percent (13-of-26) from the field and 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range.

She scored all of the Tigers’ points in a 9-3 second-half run to give them all the space they needed in their win over Arkansas on Sunday.

“I don’t necessarily feel like the burden’s on me,” Smalley said. “We’re at the point of the season now where everybody’s got to step up. It’s a crucial period right now. How we do in these games determines our destiny in the NCAA Tournament, SEC Tournament and all that. There are some really important games coming up, and I think everybody realizes that.”

Greenleaf’s spot has been occupied by a number of post players who have seen their playing time skyrocket since the senior’s dismissal, players such as junior Chantel Hilliard, freshmen Jassany Williams and Peyton Davis and sophomore Pascale West.

Those four have combined to average 14.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in the past two games.

“I don’t think we’re completely over (losing Greenleaf), but we know we have to do without her,” Hilliard said. “We know it was a decision that had to be made. We took it upon ourselves to overcome it.”

Auburn (14-11, 7-5 SEC) is in a tie for fifth in the conference with only four games remaining.

And each of the final four takes on even more importance after the Tigers’ home loss to a Mississippi State that was winless in the conference on Jan. 6.

“Mississippi State — I hope — opened our eyes,” Smalley said. “It’s do-or-die time now. If we’re going to do anything once the season’s out, it’s time to get with it. I hope that was a turning point for us, and we won’t have any more breakdowns like that.”

Tonight’s 6 p.m. tilt with Alabama (13-12, 2-10) would seem to be an ideal trap game for Auburn to experience one of the “breakdowns” Smalley referenced.

The Tide, who are near the bottom of the conference standings and lost by 11 to Auburn earlier this season, are still the Tigers’ main rival and a team with an incentive to make Auburn’s path to the NCAA Tournament even more difficult.

“No Auburn person likes to lose to Alabama,” Hilliard said. “I know I’m going to do what I have to do to not lose to them. We’re all going to do what we have to do to not get the ‘L’ against them.

“That’s not even an option.”

| 737-2568

Alabama (13-12, 2-10) at Auburn (14-11, 7-5)
Where: Auburn Arena

When: 6 p.m.

Radio/TV: WMXA (96.7 FM)/No TV

Projected starters, Alabama: G Celiscia Farmer, So., 6-0 (3.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg); G LaToya King, Sr., 5-4 (3.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg); F Tierney Jenkins, Sr., 6-0 (16.4 ppg, 10.6 rpg); G Ericka Russell, Jr. 5-7 (9.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg); F Kaneisha Horn, Fr., 6-1 (8.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg)

Projected starters, Auburn: G Morgan Toles, 5-9, So. (8.3 ppg, 5.2 apg); G Alli Smalley, 5-8, Sr. (11.7 rpg, 3.2 rpg); G/F Blanche Alverson, 6-3, So. (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg); F Chantel Hilliard, 6-2, Jr. (5.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg); F Jassany Williams, 6-2, Fr. (3.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg)