Texas A&M bounces back from 1st loss with win over Miss St.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Kayla Wells scored 21 points to lead the No. 7 Texas A&M to a victory over 14th-ranked Mississippi State 69-41 on Sunday.

Texas A&M (13-1, 5-1 SEC) scored the game’s first five points and never trailed in bouncing back from its lone loss of the season, also ending a seven-game losing streak against the Bulldogs (8-4, 3-3) in the process.

Wells, a 6-foot senior guard, hit 8 of 9 field goals to lead three Aggies in double figures. Aaliyah Wilson added 15 points and nine rebounds.

Ciera Johnson had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Myah Taylor added 14 points to lead Mississippi State, which lost its second straight. Rickea Jackson added 11 points.

Texas A&M put the game away with a 17-4 run in the third quarter for a 43-25 lead, its largest of the game. Wilson had nine points, hitting 4 of 5 shots.

A&M grinded its way to a 14-3 lead after a quarter, despite missing 13 of 18 field goals. Johnson had two buckets off offensive rebounds and added a free throw to give A&M a 5-0 lead.

N’dea Jones contributed a three-point play as A&M hit all four free-throw attempts in the quarter. Mississippi State had its lowest scoring quarter in program history, managing only a 3-pointer by Aliyah Matharu. The Bulldogs were 1-of-13 shooting in the quarter with five turnovers for their worst 10 minutes since the NCAA went quarters in the women’s game for the 2015-16 season.

Mississippi State pulled within 26-19 by halftime by outscoring A&M 7-1 in the last two minutes with Taylor and Xaria Wiggins hitting back-to-back 3-pointers.

BIG PICTURE

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs already have lost as many league games as it did last season with 10 games left.

Texas A&M: A&M which improved to 5-0 against Top 25 teams isn’t scheduled to play another ranked team until facing No. Arkansas on Feb. 14.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: will host No. 5 South Carolina on Jan. 28

Texas A&M: at Missouri on Sunday