Thomas leads State past Ole Miss

By By Joey Vaughn / special to The Star
Jan. 20, 2003
OXFORD Ole Miss led for most of the game Sunday, but No. 15 Mississippi State made timely runs when it counted in a 69-60 win over the Lady Rebels.
Latoya Thomas scored 30 points and broke MSU's career rebounds record in leading the Lady Bulldogs to the comeback win. MSU improved to 13-3 overall and 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
Ole Miss built a 28-17 first-half lead, but State went on a 12-0 run over the final 7:51 to take a one-point halftime lead.
Ole Miss managed to stay in the game, and even led most of the time, despite shooting only 27 percent.
Watts led Ole Miss with 20 points, including 10-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. The Lady Rebels as a team were 17-of-17 from the charity stripe.
The teams traded runs throughout the game. Ole Miss scored the first six points of the game before giving up 11 straight to MSU. The Lady Rebels then turned to the 3-point line to outscore State 22-6 and build its 28-17 lead. The Lady Bulldogs responded with a 12-0 run to lead at the half.
Thomas almost single-handedly kept MSU in the game in the first half. She scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting while the rest of her teammates combined to hit only 5-of-22 shots.
Ole Miss took the lead again shortly after halftime, going up as much as 47-39 at the 10:26 mark. Mississippi State went to the full-court press and gave Ole Miss fits, especially after Lady Rebel guard Genice Terry fouled out with 6:13 to go.
Ole Miss made only three field goals after State went to the press, and the Lady Bulldogs took the lead at the 7:00 mark and slowly pulled away.
Watts added 10 rebounds to her 20 points for Ole Miss. Terry added 18.
Thomas brought down nine rebounds to go along with her 30 points for MSU. Tan White scored 15 points and snagged 11 rebounds.
and Rebecca Kates added 10 points.