BANGOR, Maine (AP) Victoria Vivians scored 26 points, Roshunda Johnson added 14 and No. 10 Mississippi State beat Maine 87-43 on Saturday in the championship game of the Maine Tipoff Tournament.
Vivians, who led the Bulldogs in scoring last season, had a big game one night after being held to just four points. The 6-foot-1 junior made 9 of 19 shots from the field (47.4 percent), including four 3-pointers, and also added three steals.
Mississippi State (2-0) routed its second straight opponent after beating Villanova 108-62 in the season opener. The Bulldogs jumped out a 15-0 lead in the first four minutes and cruised to a 46-23 halftime advantage.
Maine (1-1) was led by Naira Carceres and Laia Sole, who both scored eight points. The Black Bears were hurt by 26 turnovers.
BIG PICTURE
Mississippi State: Vivians' big game was a good sign for the Bulldogs, who will need her scoring throughout the season. She led the team in scoring last year with 17.1 points per game. Mississippi State would like to be a little more balanced this season, but there's no doubt Vivians will be asked to carry a large portion of the offensive burden.
Maine: It was a tough night for the Black Bears, who fell into the early hole and could never recover. Maine still had a decent weekend, beating Purdue by 20 points in the tournament's opening game.
UP NEXT
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs face Tulane in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Wednesday.
Maine: The Black Bears travel to face Harvard on Tuesday.
