Auburn Lady Tigers remain unbeaten

By Andrew Gribble
Auburn University Beat Reporter
Published: January 11, 2009

AUBURN — The Auburn maintenance staff could have some extra work on its hands.

The curtains that hang from the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum ceiling, designed to cover up the usually empty seats behind both baselines, might have to go.

Auburn is 17-0 and people are starting to take notice.

In their most impressive outing of the season, the No. 9 Tigers took down No. 18 Florida, 81-65, in front of 6,090 abnormally loud fans, the seventh-largest crowd in Auburn women’s history.

The attendance figure more than doubled Auburn’s previous high of the season, and was 1,060 short of the largest-ever, which was set in 1989 against Tennessee.

“It’s what you always want,” Auburn coach Nell Fortner said. “I was so pleased with it because it gives you a true home-court advantage.”

Not that it’s really mattered where Auburn has played its games this season.

Auburn is one of four undefeated teams left in the country, joining North Carolina, Connecticut and Kansas State. No. 7 Tennessee, the only SEC team ranked higher, lost Sunday, 74-58, at Vanderbilt.

Sunday’s big win maintained the Tigers’ best start since 1988-89 when they won their first 29 games before losing to Tennessee late in the season. Auburn went on to win the SEC and advanced to the Final Four that year.

Surprisingly, the Tigers’ are 2-0 to start SEC play for the first time since 1995-96.

“It’s just a big win,” Fortner said. “Every win you get in this league is special.”

Auburn’s DeWanna Bonner finished with a game-high 29 points. Sherell Hobbs made her first eight shots from the field, to pick up 23 points. Whitney Boddie finished with 14 points.