GREENSBORO -- Auburn senior KeKe Carrier posted career highs in points (23) and rebounds (13) for her second consecutive double-double, as the Tigers pulled out the 76-63 win Tuesday at N.C. A&T.
"KeKe was dominating tonight," Auburn head coach Nell Fortner. "She is starting to get very confident and she is expending her game some with her post moves. She was definitely a force inside tonight."
Carrier led a pack of four Tigers that scored in double figures as Alli Smalley and Nicolle Thomas added 11 each, followed by freshman Blanche Alverson with 10. Sophomore Parrisha Simmons scored nine points and finished second on the team with five rebounds.
"You always like to see the scoring spread around a little bit," said Fortner. "It is important to be able to spread the floor and not let defense's double up on people, it was good to see."
The Aggies led 14-12 with 12:31 left in the first half. Auburn opened up a 39-28 Tiger lead with 2:00 left to play on a 12-2 run.
lverson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send Auburn into the locker room with a 10-point, 42-32 lead. Carrier had 19 of her points in the first half to lead all scorers.
After Auburn (5-3) built its lead to 13 early in the second half, A&T (2-4) put together a run of its own, going on a 9-1 run to cut the Tiger lead to five, 53-48, with 12:45 left in the game. Auburn responded with a 13-0 run to build the lead to 18 with 8:41 left.
The Aggies would get no closer than 13 points the remainder of the game as Auburn held on for its first road win of the season.
"Every road win is important because it is tough to win on the road, no matter who you are playing," said Fortner. "We will take this one and go home, we feel good about it."
Auburn shot 52.6 percent from the field (30-of-57) and 42.9 percent from 3-point range (6-of-14). The Tigers also connected on 10-of-17 from the free throw line. Auburn blocked eight shots in the game, led by Carrier's three. Pascale West and Chantel Hilliard added two each.
The Tigers held A&T to 32.8 shooting (22-of-67) in the game as Crystal Murdaugh led the Aggies with 12 points. JaQuayla Berry added 10 off the bench. N.C. A&T leading scorer, Ta'Wuana Cook, was held to eight points.
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