MSU improve NCAA Tournament hopes with home win

STARKVILLE – Fresh off of a frustrating loss and being without star center Jessika Carter for a second-straight game, Mississippi State's chances against a strong Alabama team seemed bleak.

One thing that has been certain about this State team this year, though, is that it can rise to the challenge. That's exactly what happened on senior day with a lively atmosphere inside Humphrey Coliseum.

State brought out quite possibly its most complete game for four quarters all season long. The Bulldogs got a lead in the first half and kept the foot on the pedal on Sunday to grab a key resumebuilding win 60-45.

The win was a big one for an MSU team that was celebrating seniors Anastasia Hayes, Ahlana Smith, Asianae Johnson and Kourtney Weber.

“This is why I took this job – because our fan base is special,” State coach Sam Purcell said. “Especially with the energy that my seniors deserved.

We went into the game and talked about it, Senior night is such a different night. It was great to see so many plays by all of them tonight and a team that wanted to bounce back after a hard one at Missouri.”

It was a total team effort for the Bulldogs on both ends with 22 turnovers really being the team's only real concern in the game. MSU held Alabama to 29% (17-of-58) from the field and 29% (8-of-28) from 3-point range.

For State, it was an efficient day shooting. The Bulldogs were 52% from the field (25-of-48) and 53% (8-of-15) from 3-point range. MSU won the rebounding 40-30, blocked 10 shots and had 14 assists.

Defense was the name n of the game for the Bulldogs. In the first three quarters, State gave up w no more than 11 points. It allowed the team to push the lead out in the first half as Jerkaila Jordan had nine points in the first quarter h in what was a 17-11 lead and she made it 14 at the half when MSU was able to extend that lead to 35-18 at the break.

“Missouri definitely didn't leave a good taste in our mouth and we knew that we couldn't let Missouri beat us twice,” Smith said. The only way to do that was to practice hard all week, come out (Sunday), execute and put everything into play. I feel like everyone was on the same page and I feel like we fully executed.”

Alabama came out of the locker room with a 6-0 run in the first 2 minutes to cut that lead down to 11 points, but the game might have been won the rest of that third frame. Over the course of the final nearly 8 minutes of the third quarter, MSU gave up just four points and the Bulldogs were able to extend the lead to 47-28 going into the last quarter.

The lead got to as much as 21 points in the fourth quarter and that was enough to make sure that MSU held off a late rally. The Tide went on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 54-43 with 2:30 left. Smith put it away with a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs one of their best wins of the year.

Doing it without Carter and remember on senior day.” was the most impressive Smith came through with thing for MSU. Jordan went another good game as well for off for 24 points in the game the Bulldogs with 15 points hitting the 20- point threshon 6-of-11 and 3-of-5 from old for the fourth time in 3-point territory and she had the last six games and tyfour rebounds. Asianae Johning her season high. She son had seven points and five was 10- of- 15 from the field assists and Ramani Parker had and 4- of- 6 from 3- point five points and 10 rebounds in range while hauling in six Carter's absence. rebounds. She also had four With the win, State is now steals and three blocks. 19-8 for the year and 8-6 in “I did it for our seniors,” Southeastern Conference Jordan said. “Going out there play. The Bulldogs moved to and playing with a smile on 13-2 at home which is the my face and keeping them most home wins since 2018uplifted, hopefully this was a 19. Most importantly, MSU day that they can look back on got its second Quad I win of for leading p g g g es celebrated care at the right time,” is warnthe COVID-19 federal emergency ng babies & ing expectant mothers to make declaration is in effffffect. If state legti ion lie.” arrangements to reach another islators fail to make the extension nalysts, dochospital once they start having permanent, coverage will roll back women are contractions. Meanwhile, pregto two months when the emeroptions for nant women who arrive in a crisis gency order is lifted. ear. will be stabilized in the emergency Advocates for low-income llion women room, and then transferred to anwomen say extending that coverage ve in “materother facility that provides matercould reduce maternal mortality. he U.S., and nity care, hospital spokeswoman But Republican lawmakers ve e in counties Christine Hemphill said. killed a bill in this year’s legislay care access, Greenwood Leflflore now tive session that would have let 11 report by directs expectant mothers to a mothers keep Medicaid coverage hich focuses hospital about 33 miles (53.1 kilofor a year after giving birth. Asked nt health. ThThe meters) away in Grenada. Brenda whether it could save lives, House aternity care Palmertree had two children there Speaker Phillip Gunn said “that with no hosbefore moving closer to Greenhas not been a part of the discusetric care, no wood, and fifinds it diffifficult to sions that I’ve heard.”

GYN and no imagine driving that far while on Reeves’ offiffice did not respond ve es. the verge of giving birth. “If you to an Associated Press request for the year which gets the team closer to an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since that 2018-19 season.

A win on Thursday night against Arkansas in the home finale could do the trick. Playing at home gives the team the most confidence.

“It would be my first time going to the tournament so I'm grateful,” Jordan said of the possibility of postseason. “We're going to keep it one game at a time and not look too far ahead. This is just one win closer to the tournament and we're going to keep the goal the same.”

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