Mississippi St. rolls, keeps perfect record

NO. 2 MISSISSIPPI STATE 81, KENTUCKY 58

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The No. 2 Mississippi State Bulldogs trailed 23-22 after one quarter, and Coach Vic Schaefer let them know how he felt about it.

A 19-2 run to start the second quarter showed they listened well.

Roshunda Johnson finished with 20 points and the Bulldogs remained undefeated by routing Kentucky 81-58 Friday to advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals.

The Bulldogs are 31-0, the nation’s longest winning streak. They are trying to add their first tournament title to the regular-season championship and will play No. 15 Texas A&M, which beat No. 24 LSU, for a third consecutive spot in the final.

“He said we weren’t playing hard enough and that’s not how we wanted to come out,” Johnson said of Schaefer’s message after the first quarter.

“And I just felt like we had to come harder. And he said it, we, some people, weren’t playing hard, so we had to keep going and get ourself together.”

Teaira McCowan had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Mississippi State. Victoria Vivians added 17 points and Blair Schaefer had 15, tying her career-high with five three-pointers.

Kentucky (15-17) ended the SEC’s longest active streak of trips to the semifinals at eight consecutive. Coach Matthew

Mitchell said he wished his Wildcats had played better in this tournament. The Bulldogs used their experience and strength to make life tough on Kentucky.

“They’re an incredible shooting team and they’re shooting the ball really well,” Mitchell said. “So they’re awfully tough.”

Taylor Murray led the Wildcats with 15 points. Maci Morris and Amanda Paschal each added 13.

Kentucky took a 23-22 lead at the end of the first quarter on a three-pointer by Paschal with 8 seconds left. That was the best it would get for the Wildcats.

NO. 8 SOUTH CAROLINA 73, NO. 12 TENNESSEE 62

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A’ja Wilson had 24 points and 12 rebounds coming off the bench and eighth-ranked South Carolina beat No. 12 Tennessee in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.

The Gamecocks (24-6) are back in the semifinals as they chase a fourth consecutive tournament title, which has never been done in the SEC. They will play No. 14 Missouri or No. 19 Georgia in the semifinals today.

Coach Dawn Staley wasn’t sure if the three-time SEC player of the year would play in the SEC tournament. Now the Gamecocks look primed to break its tie with Tennessee for most consecutive tournament championships at three apiece. Wilson didn’t start against the Lady Vols after missing the regular season finale at Tennessee with vertigo.