Jan. 18, 2007
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) – Ashley Awkward scored 22 points and hit four 3-pointers, and No. 24 Mississippi used a big early run to beat South Carolina 76-57 on Thursday night.
It was the first game for the Rebels (16-4 overall, 5-0 Southeastern Conference) since moving into the AP Top 25 on Monday.
Armintie Price had 17 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and Alliesha Easley added 10 points.
Iva Sliskovic led South Carolina with 17 points on 6 of 7 shooting and Lauren Simms scored 12 points. Ilona Burgrova led the Gamecocks with seven rebounds.
Ole Miss held South Carolina (11-8, 1-3) without a basket for 5:00 early in the first half and built a 19-4 lead. The Gamecocks cut the deficit to 10 twice, but the Rebels led 40-25 at halftime after Awkward hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Awkward hit three 3s in the first half and the Rebels went 4-for-5 from behind the 3-point line.
South Carolina got no closer than 10 in a physical second half in which the teams combined for 27 fouls.
Ole Miss collected 14 steals and scored 27 points off turnovers.
