OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Kayla Wells had 18 points and eight rebounds and No. 5 Texas A&M rode a dominant fourth quarter to a 66-55 victory over Mississippi on Sunday.
The Aggies (20-1, 11-1 Southeastern Conference) won their eighth straight game, but the Rebels (9-9, 3-11) kept it competitive into the fourth, trailing just 44-39. Then it was all Texas A&M.
Already off to the program's best start through 20 games, the Aggies secured their 16th consecutive season with at least 20 wins.
Wells only shot 5 of 16 from the floor but made 7 of 8 free throws. Aaliyah Wilson had a huge all-around game. Wilson had 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Jordan Nixon scored nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter when Texas A&M led by as many as 15.
Ciera Johnson only scored five points but the last one hit the career 1,000-point milestone.
Shakira Austin got her fifth straight double double to lead Ole Miss. She had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Taylor Smith had 12 points on 3of-6 3-pointers. The rest of the team made 1 of 9 attempts from 3-point range. Madison Scott finished with 10 points.
Zaay Green and Jordan Nixon helped turn it into a comfortable win.
Green hit the Aggies’ first three baskets of the fourth — and her first three in the game. Then Nixon hit three straight layups and a free throw in a quick nine-point Texas A&M flurry, over a span of just 1:49.
Ciera Johnson's putback with 2 seconds left in the third quarter gave Texas A&M a 44-39 lead after the Rebels had erased most of a 10-point deficit.
The momentum carried over into the fourth.
BIG PICTURE
Texas A&M: Had to rebound from a slow start after missing all five 3-point attempts and four of six free throw attempts in the opening quarter. The defense remained strong, helping the Aggies build a 26-23 halftime edge. Ole Miss: Made just 5 of 14 shots in the fourth quarter, but showed plenty of resilience until then. Won the rebounding battle 43-34.
UP NEXT
Texas A&M visits Alabama on Thursday night, before closing the regular season against No. 2 South Carolina.
Ole Miss faces another top 5 team, visiting South Carolina on Thursday night.
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