Schaefer provides Bulldogs big spark
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In Mississippi
State’s 89-73 triumph on Sunday night against UCLA, there were the big games from the usual suspects.
Four of the five starters scored in double figures for State and helped bring home a second-straight regional championship trophy with another ticket to the
Final Four punched. Without that one starter who missed out in double figures, however, the Bulldogs could have very well let the Bruins gain complete control and thus end their run to Columbus, Ohio.
That player was Blair Schaefer who has become a go-to when MSU needed a big shot.
Three times UCLA tried to make runs to get it back in the game and all three times the former Starkville High School player was there to give a finger wag. She finished the night with nine points but a perfect 3-for-3 from 3-point range. She added one of her patented charges on the defensive end and had three rebounds and two assists.
“I’m just happy for her,” State women’s head coach Vic Schaefer said. “I know how hard she’s worked to be in the position she’s in. She has worked her tail off all of her career for that moment. To see her answer the bell, it’s really rewarding as a coach. She is everything that is right about kids staying the course and not fleeing.”
The first of Blair’s makes came in the third quarter. With the Bulldogs 18-point lead dwindled down to nine at the 2:30 mark, Blair rammed home a long jumper from the corner. the Bruins threw another punch a minute later and had the lead down to seven before Schaefer hit one from the wing to send it back to double digits at 58-48 and that helped MSU to hold a 13-point lead after three quarters.
It was her last one that was the biggest. UCLA held momentum in its hands getting it to six points with under 6 minutes remaining. The Bulldogs got the ball inside to Teaira McCowan who threw it out to Blair, wide open at the top of the key and she buried it.
“I was just so pumped,” Blair said of her third and final
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