Marita Payne was Auburn’s rim-protecting force and a stat-sheet problem for opponents
In the 2005 season, Auburn center Marita Payne stood out as an elite interior defender and rebounder, leading the Tigers in rebounds and blocks while posting a school-record 13 blocks in one game and a rare Auburn triple-double (15 points, 12 rebounds, 13 blocks) against Arkansas. She consistently gave Auburn a physical paint presence, with strong board work and shot-blocking that can swing games even when scoring is quiet. If you want a hard-nosed, low-glamour, high-impact big who changes shots and cleans the glass, she’s your kind of player.
