Blackwell, Missouri women beat Ole Miss 64-53 in SEC tourney

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Aijha Blackwell scored 16 points and Missouri beat Mississippi 64-53 in the Southeastern Conference tournament Wednesday.

The No. 11 seed Tigers play sixth-seeded Tennessee in the second round Thursday. The Lady Vols won the only regular-season matchup between the teams 77-66.

Amber Smith hit a 3-pointer and Nadia Green made 1 of 2 free throws and then a layup to make it 34-24 at the end of the second quarter. Missouri (9-21) scored 14 of the first 16 second-half points to make it 48-26 when Haley Troup hit a 3-pointer.

Mimi Reid had 15 points, five rebounds, seven assists and a career-high four steals for the 14th-seeded Rebels (7-23). Ole Miss has lost 17 in row, tied with Evansville for the second-longest active streak.

Reid made a layup to pull the Rebels within four with 2:22 left in the first half but they missed their next 11 field-goal attempts before Jayla Alexander hit a jumper with 4:57 left in the third. Missouri made 9 of 10 from the field during that span.