By Staff
From staff, wire reports
OXFORD LaToya Thomas scored 31 points and Jennifer Fambrough had 15 to lead No. 21 Mississippi State to a 60-55 win over homestanding Ole Miss Thursday night.
Ole Miss (11-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) dominates the 27-year-old rivalry 52-7, but has lost five straight to the Lady Bulldogs (11-4, 1-2).
Thomas, a sophomore forward averaging 24.2 points per game, made a basket with less than four minutes remaining in the first half to become the second-fastest SEC player to reach 1,000 points. She also became the fastest in MSU history to reach the milestone.
Thomas has played 46 games at Mississippi State. Maree Jackson, who played at LSU from 1977-79, did it in 37 games.
The Lady Rebels kept the game close throughout.
Von Kirk completed a 3-point play with 8:15 remaining to cut a Mississippi State lead to 40-39.
Tywanna Inmon, who led the Lady Rebels with 10 points, tied the game at 46 on a steal and basket about two minutes later.
But Mississippi State's Cynthia Hall hit a 3-pointer with about 3:45 left to make it 51-48.
Thomas closed the game with a free throw after a layup by Becky Myatt cut it to 59-55 with eight seconds left.
Ole Miss trailed the contest 28-22 at the half.
Thomas was 10-of-17 from the field and also had seven rebounds for Mississippi State.
Hall was 3-of-5 from 3-point range, but the Lady Bulldogs finished just 3-of-14 from behind the arc.
Ole Miss was just 4-of-20.