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Griffin scores 26 in Nebraska's 91-79 win over Tx

Jan 13, 2010 - 4:39 AM By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer

LINCOLN, Neb.(AP) -- When Nebraska needed her most, Kelsey Griffin came through again.

With the Cornhuskers' offense having gone cold, and 19th-ranked Texas having erased most of a 17-point second-half deficit, Griffin scored six straight points over 90 seconds to help the Huskers stay unbeaten with a 91-79 victory Tuesday night.

The Huskers (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) go into Sunday's showdown at No. 9 Baylor on an unprecedented run of success. They're off to their best start and on their longest win streak in program history, and their No. 11 rating is their highest ever.

"We know we're not going to win every game," Nebraska coach Connie Yori said, "but at the same time, we're going to try to win every game."

No one was trying harder than Griffin after Texas pulled to 77-72 on Brittainey Raven's 3-pointer with 6:47 left.

The Longhorns (11-5, 0-2) had three chances to make it a one-possession game, but Cokie Reed missed two free throws and Raven was called for a charge before Griffin stole the ball from Lauren Flores and got fouled.

Griffin hit both free throws and, after another Texas turnover, followed with a short jumper.

Then Griffin came down with a big offensive rebound on Lindsey Moore's missed 3-pointer and put it back for an 83-74 lead with 2:59 to play.

Griffin, who finished with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds, was held to just one basket the previous 10 minutes before igniting the Huskers at the end.

"I know I don't have to do everything," she said. "If it happens, it happens. If not, I know someone else will step up. If it's my time, it's my time."

Yvonne Turner matched her career best with five 3-pointers and scored a season-high 21 points, Dominique Kelley added 18 points and Cory Montgomery 16 for the Huskers.

Turner hit three 3s and scored 11 points during a 21-5 run over the first and second halves that gave Nebraska its biggest lead at 63-46.

Raven made four 3-pointers and had 22 points, Kathleen Nash added 17 and Reed 12 for the Longhorns.

Texas and Nebraska traded the lead nine times in the first half before the Huskers started their decisive run a couple minutes before halftime.

"I thought the first half was really one of the best halves of basketball by two teams that I've seen this year," Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said. "They came out the second half, and we didn't respond early on, and they made us pay."

The Longhorns went scoreless on seven of their first eight possessions of the second half before Reed started sinking short jumpers to ignite the Longhorns. Reed scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half.

Texas came into the game off a 91-70 loss at home to Texas A&M and now have lost its first two conference games for the second time in three years.

Griffin continues to carry the Huskers. She has come back from injuries that kept her out last season to score 25 points or more in seven of the first 15 games. She's averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.

"At the beginning of the year, I said there was something special about this team," Griffin said. "I knew with all our dedication and the common goal we have that great things could happen."