Nell Fortner couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the SEC season.

Her Auburn team, which features only two seniors, has won four conference games by an average of 13 points and its only loss has come on the road to Vanderbilt, which is historically brutal on Fortner and the Tigers.

Auburn has won seven of its past eight, and after a 1-4 start, has surged into the heart of the SEC season winning 10 of 13.

With a road win over Mississippi State — which is 0-4 in the SEC — tonight at 7 p.m., the Tigers can match the five conference wins they put up all of last season.

But Fortner said that’s far from a bygone conclusion.

“It’s another road game in the SEC, which is tough, it’s tough to play,” Fornter said. “I know Mississippi State is going to be hungry. They have played hard in their games, and I know they’re looking for a win. They are going to play hard and tough at home, so we have to be ready for them.”

Auburn (11-7, 4-1 SEC) has found a groove in its rotation after trying out a number of combinations with its young team early on.

Point guard Morgan Toles plays the distributor, dishing out 6.6 assists per game to go along with her 8.4 points in the SEC.

Blanche Alverson (13.8 ppg) and Alli Smalley (9.6 ppg) are handling things on the perimeter, hitting 38.3 percent of their 3-pointers in conference play.

Jordan Greenleaf (13.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg) locks down the post and freshman Tyrese Tanner (7.4 ppg) provides a spark off the bench.

“We kind of ride with what is working,” Greenleaf said after the Tigers’ 65-53 win over LSU on Sunday.

Mississippi State is a team still trying to find its rhythm after losing four starters off last year’s team and bringing in 11 new faces.

The Bulldogs have struggled offensively this season, hitting only 37.7 percent of their shots this season, but have proven scorers in junior Diamber Johnson (11.7 ppg) and senior Mary Kathryn Govero (11.3 ppg).

Fortner doesn’t feel like her team will have much of a problem focusing on Mississippi State, even with a matchup against No. 5 Tennessee waiting on Sunday.

“We always have good battles with Mississippi State, and I expect nothing less,” Fortner said. “It’s always a physical game.”

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