The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Drop Road Contest At Mississippi State
2/15/2010 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Armelie Lumanu scored 18 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists to lead Mississippi State to a 73-54 win over Ole Miss Sunday afternoon from Humphrey Coliseum.
Mary Kathryn Govero added 15 points and hit three 3-pointers, while Tysheka Grimes finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
Ole Miss All-America candidate Bianca Thomas scored a team-high 17 points to go along with two rebounds and three assists. Kayla Melson tallied 13 points and five rebounds, while Elizabeth Robertson added 11 points and four rebounds.
Mississippi State (17-9, 8-5 SEC) scored on the opening possession of the game on a layup by Diamber Johnson and built its lead to 6-0 before Thomas scored the first Ole Miss points of the game with a 3-pointer three minutes into the game.
Melson hit a jumper in the lane for the Rebels minutes later to bring Ole Miss to within one point at 6-5, but the Lady Bulldogs used an 11-2 run over the next four minutes to take a 17-7 lead midway through the half.
Ole Miss (15-10, 6-6 SEC) trimmed the MSU lead to six points on a layup from Byrd at the 10:05 point of the half before Ashley Jones hit a three-pointer in the corner to up the lead back to nine points.
The Rebels fought to within seven points twice over the final 5:20 of the first half, but the Lady Bulldogs answered with points each time to extend their lead.
Mississippi State took its largest lead of the game at 47-26 five minutes into the second half. The Rebels crawled to within 10 points twice during the final minutes, but managed to get no closer.
Shantell Black hit a three-pointer with 3:26 left to play to cut the MSU lead to 62-52, but then fouled Lumanu on the ensuing possession. Lumanu hit both free throws to put the Lady Bulldogs back ahead by 12 points and MSU finished the game on a 9-2 run.
Ole Miss returns to action Thursday at 7 p.m. when the Rebels travel to Fayetteville, Ark., to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks from Bud Walton Arena.
