GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half offensive display by Mississippi proved too much for Auburn to overcome as the Rebels secured a 73-57 victory in a Southeastern Conference women’s basketball tournament game Thursday at the Bi-Lo Center.

The Rebels, the home team by conference designation, erupted for 48 points in the opening half, building a commanding 27-point lead that the Tigers could only marginally chip away at in the second half. The win improved Mississippi’s record to 22-10 on the season, while Auburn’s campaign ended with a 15-17 mark.

Mississippi set the tone from the opening tip, racing out to a 21-6 lead after the first quarter behind the interior presence of Christeen Iwuala. The San Antonio native scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the period, overpowering Auburn in the paint. The Rebels’ onslaught continued in the second quarter as their ball movement and shooting touch proved overwhelming. A 12-0 run midway through the period, capped by consecutive three-pointers from Kaitlin Peterson and Denim DeShields, stretched the lead to 31-8 and effectively put the game out of reach before halftime.

Auburn, which managed just 20 points in the first half on 25% shooting, showed renewed fight after the break. The Tigers opened the third quarter with a 9-2 spurt and outscored Mississippi 17-10 in the period, largely behind the efforts of Khady Leye. The senior from Senegal led Auburn with 17 points and added three blocks and a steal, providing a consistent offensive spark. Kaitlyn Duhon added 14 points for the Tigers, including eight in the second half.

The Tigers’ defensive pressure intensified, forcing 10 Mississippi turnovers in the third quarter alone. Auburn trimmed the deficit to as few as 15 points early in the fourth quarter following a three-pointer from Sania Richardson, who finished with six points and three assists.

However, each time Auburn threatened to make the game tense, Mississippi responded with key baskets to maintain a comfortable margin. Following Richardson’s three-pointer that made it 60-45, the Rebels answered with a quick 5-0 run, including a traditional three-point play from Iwuala. Auburn never got closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Iwuala’s efficient 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting anchored the Mississippi offense. She was complemented by a balanced attack that saw Latasha Lattimore score 13 points with three blocks, and Cotie McMahon add 13 points and a game-high six assists. The Rebels shot 48% from the field for the game and assisted on 18 of their 29 made field goals.

The most important stretch of the game was undoubtedly Mississippi’s first-half explosion. Auburn’s offensive struggles were profound, as the Tigers committed 10 turnovers and were consistently rushed into difficult shots by the Rebels’ defensive activity. Mississippi’s ability to convert those Auburn misses and miscues into easy transition opportunities fueled the massive lead. The 48-20 halftime score created a deficit that, despite a valiant second-half effort, was simply insurmountable for an Auburn team that has struggled offensively throughout conference play.

The Rebels also dominated the interior, outscoring Auburn 44-24 in the paint and outrebounding them 42-31. Mississippi’s size and athleticism, particularly from Iwuala and Lattimore, controlled the glass and protected the rim, combining for five blocks.

For Auburn, the loss concludes a season of inconsistency. The Tigers entered the tournament having split their final two regular-season games, including a narrow 50-49 win at Texas A&M. Mississippi, meanwhile, solidified its resume for the upcoming NCAA tournament with a convincing performance, avenging a regular-season-ending loss to Texas A&M last Sunday.

The game was the second meeting between the teams this season, with Mississippi winning both contests. The Rebels defeated Auburn 71-45 in Oxford on Feb. 2.