STARKVILLE, Miss. – Auburn senior Unique Thompson set the all-time career rebounding record for Auburn and had a 22-point, 14-rebound night, but the Tigers let a halftime lead slip away in an 81-68 loss at Mississippi State Tuesday night.
Thompson's 1,119th career rebound came with 5:28 to play in the third quarter, moving her past Becky Jackson for the top spot in the Auburn record book. She will head into her Senior Night with 1,123 career boards.
"It means everything to me," Thompson said. "It's hard to not get choked up and teary-eyed. I had goosebumps the whole game. Before the game I was a nervous wreck, just knowing what I had to do tonight. Once I looked up and saw that I had (10 rebounds), I couldn't do anything but smile. I knew I had to work hard and it wasn't going to come easy tonight."
Thompson's big night, along with a 24-point performance from Honesty Scott-Grayson, kept the Tigers in the game until late. But fatigue set in for the shorthanded Tigers – who dressed just eight players as a result of injuries and suspensions – and the Bulldogs pulled away late.
"We had great effort, kept playing hard," Auburn head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "Just a few mishaps and a few open looks, that really hurt us. It definitely wasn't the offense. We've just got to be able to put two ends of the court together. Giving up 81 points, that's just really tough. They're playing hard and getting after it, it's just giving up 81 points doesn't help us at all.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity Unique had tonight to break that record. You look at when the record was set, and now it's 2021 that it's being broke, that speaks kudos to Unique Thompson for what she's done in her four years at Auburn. It's been tough for her, being the only senior and having to put us on her back and carry us with so many newcomers, but she's done a great job."
The Tigers led by as many as 10 in the second quarter and held a 42-36 lead at the half. But MSU outscored Auburn 21-8 in the third quarter to take a 57-50 lead after three. The Tigers would get as close as three points at 67-64 with 5:22 to play as they cut into a 10-point deficit with a 9-2 run. But Auburn would make just one field goal over the final five-plus minutes.
Auburn shot 38 percent from the field (25-66) to MSU's 46 percent (32-69). State out-rebounded Auburn 46-40 and had 23 second-chance points on 15 offensive rebounds.
Four players hit double-figures for Mississippi State, led by 20 points and nine rebounds from Rickea Jackson. Jessika Carter added 17.
The Tigers will play their final home game of the season Thursday night as No. 16 Arkansas visits Auburn Arena. Game time is 8 p.m. CT; Thompson and senior manager Trey Larrimore will be honored in a pregame ceremony at approximately 7:40 p.m.
