Dec. 2, 2006
RENO, Nev. - KeKe Carrier didn't enter the game until the clock read 9:58 in the second half, but she scored 10 points in nine minutes and provided a much-needed spark for Auburn (6-2) in an 84-75 win over hosting Nevada (3-3) Friday night at the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev. The Tigers finished the game on a 30-13 run after trailing 62-54 with 8:04 remaining.
"They didn't have an answer for KeKe tonight," Auburn head coach Nell Fortner said. "We decided to play the 2-3 zone so we could get her in the game, and she made the difference."
Carrier was one of four Tigers in double figures. DeWanna Bonner scored 24 points and added 10 rebounds for her seventh career double-double. Sherell Hobbs netted 14 points, and Jordan Greenleaf tallied 10.
Nevada's Brandi Fitzgerald hit a three at the 8:20 mark to give the Wolf Pack their largest lead of the game at 62-54. In the next 5:19, Auburn went on a 20-1 run to take an 11-point lead at 74-63. Carrier scored eight of the 20 points.
Nevada hit three long-range three-pointers in the final 1:38 to keep the pressure on, but Auburn converted at the foul line down the stretch to put the game away.
The Tigers led for most of the first half, but trailed 35-34 at halftime after committing two turnovers and surrendering four unanswered points in the final 1:18 of the period. Auburn's largest lead of the half was 31-25, and it came at the 3:47 mark on a Greenleaf layup.
Nevada briefly took a 17-16 lead in the first half on a Traci Graham free throw with 8:48 on the clock, but the lead was quickly erased when Greenleaf converted a layup and was fouled. Auburn got another three points the hard way on its next possession from Hobbs to make the score 22-17.
Nevada shot 11-of-19 from three-point range. Auburn attempted only one three.
Dellena Criner scored 25 points for Nevada on the strength of a 5-for-5 mark from beyond the arc.
Auburn returns to the Lawlor Events Center in Reno on Saturday for a 7 p.m. CT contest vs. UC Riverside. The Tigers play their fourth home game of the season on Dec. 6 vs. Jackson State. Tip off for that game is set for 5:30 p.m. CT.