Johnson makes difference for Bulldogs during victory

It was Roshunda Johnson’s turn to make a difference for the second-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday.

When the Bulldogs needed some scoring early in the game against the Kentucky Wildcats, Johnson was happy to oblige.

Johnson scored 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and she hit all five of her 3-point field goals in the first half as MSU defeated Kentucky 74-55 at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs held a 40-22 lead at halftime as Johnson scored 15 of her points.

“(Johnson) got us really where we were at halftime,” MSU women’s basketball head coach Vic Schaefer said. “We’re not there if she’s not knocking down shots. We really fed off of her.”

Johnson, who reached the 500-point mark of her career during the first half, hit her first 3-pointer with 7:04 remaining in the first quarter to put the Bulldogs up 9-2.

Offense doesn’t come first in the mind of Johnson. She wants to establish her defense before ever thinking about taking a shot.

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(Photo by Jason Cleveland, SDN) Mississippi State guard Roshunda Johnson, right, looks to pass around the defense of Kentucky’s Amanda Paschal (12) on Sunday.