OXFORD — Unique Thompson had 20 points and 12 rebounds Thursday to lead three players in double figures in the Auburn women’s basketball team’s 64-51 victory against Ole Miss in a Southeastern Conference game at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Crystal Primm had 11 points and six rebounds, and Daisa Alexander had 10 points for the Tigers (16-5, 4-4), who used a 25-10 third quarter to pull away.
Auburn forced 20 turnovers and turned that into a 15-7 edge in points off turnovers. The Tigers also had a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint.
“Our second quarter has been our Achilles’ heel,” Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. “The last thing I thought was that the third quarter we would break down mentally.
Allen and Shandricka Sessom (eight rebounds) led Ole Miss with 16 points, but they combined for 12 of the Rebels’ turnovers. Former Mississippi State player La’Karis Salter had four points and four rebounds in 13 minutes for the Rebels (8-14, 2-6).
Despite being held without a field goal for much of the game, Allen, a redshirt senior, went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line to extend her consecutive steak to 45, which is longest active streak in the NCAA.
Cecilia Muhate had eight rebounds in her first game after missing the games against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State due to a concussion.
Leading 27-24 at halftime, Auburn was 9-for-18 from the field in the third quarter to extend the margin.
Ole Miss will play host to No. 20 Texas A&M at 2 p.m. Sunday.
n Southern Mississippi 71, Florida International 57: At Hattiesburg, Shonte Hailes had a game-high 27 points Thursday night to lead the Lady Eagles to their home victory in a Conference USA matchup.
Hailes was one point off her career high thanks in part to a 5-for-7 effort from 3-point range. She also had five assists to help Southern Miss improve to 12-10 and 4-5 in C-USA.
Former Starkville High School standout Kelsey Jones had eight points in 12 minutes for Southern Miss.
Megan Brown (11 points) was 3-for-3 from 3-point range to join Hailes in double figures. Respect Leaphart added 11 points and five rebounds for the Lady Eagles.
Southern Miss will play host to Florida Atlantic at 4 p.m. Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum. Southern Miss will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with other women’s programs, including the introduction of the inaugural beach volleyball team.
n Voorhees College 73, Mississippi University for Women 64: At Denmark, South Carolina, Nijah Davis had 17 points and seven rebounds to help the Tigers rally past the Owls on Thursday night.
Voorhees (12-11) outscored The W (14-6) 38-25 in the second half, including 16-7 in the fourth quarter to earn the victory.
Ca’washa Ceasar had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Jessica Gaston and Dyanna Freeman had 12.
The W was 1-for-12 from the field in the fourth quarter and had eight turnovers.
Former West Point High standout Qiayon Bailey went 5-for-14 from the field and 10-for-17 at the free-throw line for 20 points. The junior forward also had six rebounds, two blocked shots, and one steal.
Keyahna Jones recorded her sixth double-double with a game high of 12 rebounds with 13 points. Autumn Taylor had 12 points and two steals.
The W will take on Morris College at noon Saturday in Sumter, South Carolina.
Junior Colleges
n Itawamba Community College 62. Northwest Mississippi C.C. 61: At Fulton, Former Starkville High standout Tabreea Gandy had 17 points Thursday to lead the Lady Indians to their Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) North Division win.
Shaniyah Buford added 15 points for ICC (15-2, 7-0 North). Kayla Bradley had 22 points for Northwest
Mississippi C.C. (7-10, 2-5).
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