Adams: Auburn's energy just too much

AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn senior DeWanna Bonner scored a career-high 35 points with energy to spare Sunday afternoon. She was all over the floor during and after Auburn's 82-68 rout of Tennessee at Beard-Eaves Coliseum.

Her celebration was almost as impressive as her game, which included six steals and nine rebounds. As the 6-foot-4 Bonner raced from one end of the floor to the other to exhort the crowd, you gained an appreciation of what UT was up against.

Bonner's boundless energy was as evident as her quickness. And when she raised her long arms above her head, you could see how she kept getting in the way of UT passes.

Her adrenaline more than compensated for her fatigue.

"Yeah, I was a little tired," said Bonner. "But I was so excited. It took us so long to get a crowd like that. And then, we had never beaten Tennessee. I'm just so excited."

Did she mention she was excited?

You couldn't blame her. The unbeaten Tigers not only attracted a program-record crowd of 12,067 fans. They gave them a compelling reason to come back.

So many SEC programs have collapsed under similar circumstances against UT, which routinely plays before large, loud crowds at home and on the road.

"I really wasn't (concerned)," Auburn coach Nell Fortner said. "I can't say enough about the mental toughness of this team.

"They don't get rattled easily. They're very focused and very hungry to reach their goals. That keeps them very grounded."

In fact, Auburn exhibited the kind of confidence that you would expect from UT amidst such high expectations.

The sixth-ranked Tigers weren't as good as billed. They were better. So was Bonner, the SEC's leading scorer.

"I think she's the most underrated player in the country," Fortner said.

With Bonner leading the way, Auburn dominated the Lady Vols the way UT has overwhelmed so many opponents in winning eight national championships. The Tigers were too quick, too athletic and too aggressive.

Auburn, which starts four seniors, also had a huge advantage in experience over a UT team that relies so heavily on freshmen. But it's not unusual for UT to make up for inexperience with sheer talent.

Not this time.

UT had no answer for Bonner or quicksilver point guard Whitney Boddie, who repeatedly beat UT defenders off the dribble while scoring 17 points and assisting on nine other baskets.

"They are very confident," UT coach Pat Summitt said of the Tigers. "They have reason to be.

"This is the most aggressive team (Fortner) has had. I just thought that they played with a lot more energy and demonstrated a lot more quickness than we did.

"Young players give in to fatigue. We had three of those on the court giving into fatigue. We have some growing pains with that. . . . I still think there is a great upside."

Fortner concurred.

"Tennessee has a lot of special players," she said. "I sure don't want to have to play them again. They'll just keep getting better and better."

But on what Fortner called "a magical day" for her program, you couldn't help but doubt that UT could improve fast enough to catch Auburn this season.

"(The Lady Vols) have been a great team since I was born," Bonner said. "But now, we're the veteran team.

"We're seniors. We've grown up."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.