Tigers fall on the road at Mississippi State
Auburn’s DeYona Gaston had her 10th game of the season with 20-plus points, but a big Mississippi State run in the second quarter led the Bulldogs to a 96-56 win Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum.
Gaston led all scorers with 26 points, but it was not enough to overcome a Bulldog team that shot a season-high 62.3 percent from the floor and also controlled the paint and the boards.
Meanwhile, Auburn shot 34.4 percent, a season-low, and was out-rebounded 44-23. State scored 56 of their 96 points in the paint and also knocked down eight 3-pointers.
Celia Sumbane added 10 points for the Tigers, and Mar’Shaun Bostic had five assists.
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Auburn trailed by just two at the end of the first quarter, 15-13, and the teams traded buckets to open the second. But the Tigers went cold and MSU took advantage, scoring 24 straight before Gaston ended the drought with 2:00 to play. State would then score the final seven points of the half to lead 48-17 at the break.
A 25-point third quarter for the Tigers matched their best in an SEC game this season, but State bolstered their lead with a 35-point output to lead 83-42 after three.
Five players scored in double-figures for State, led by 15 apiece from Jerkaila Jordan and Eniya Russell.
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Auburn closes out January at home Sunday afternoon when the Tigers host the Florida Gators. Game time is 2 p.m. at Neville Arena; it’s the annual We Back Pat game for Alzheimer’s awareness.
(Press Release from Auburn University)
