MSU sees season come to close
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In a contest that included 10 lead changes and eight ties, Mississippi State fell to Penn State 92-87 in the WBIT quarterfinals inside Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday.
Jerkaila Jordan finished with a career-high 36 points and six rebounds in 37 minutes. Graduate student center Jessika Carter added 21 points on 8-of-9 from the field with eight rebounds in 21 minutes.
The 36 points from Jordan are the most points scored by any Mississippi State individual in a NONNCAA Tournament event in program history. The careerhigh from Jordan passed 34 points from Latoya Thomas in the 2001 WNIT.
Mississippi State concludes the season with a 23-12 record. The Bulldogs have recorded back-to-back 20-win seasons in as many seasons under head coach Sam Purcell.
Mississippi State secured a 10-8 lead at the initial media timeout with 4:26 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs then took their largest lead of the contest at 18-12 on a steal and finish from freshman guard Mjracle Sheppard.
In a back-and-forth first quarter, graduate student forward Erynn Barnum beat her defender on a rip drive move and finished inside with 30 seconds left in the frame to retake a 22-21 lead. The Mississippi State defense forced a shot clock violation on the other end to keep the lead after the first 10 minutes.
With the clock winding down before the half, Jordan stole the ball and beat the buzzer to tie the game at 38 entering the locker room. The Bulldogs turned in 16 points in the paint in the opening 20 minutes.
A 5-0 run that was capped off by an and-one finish from Carter pushed the Mississippi State margin to 47-42 at the 7:08 mark of the third quarter. After Penn State took the lead for the majority of the third quarter, freshman forward Quanirah Montague knocked down a pair of free throws to take a 56-55 lead.
Jordan knocked down one of two from the line to tie the game at 59 with 56.4 seconds left in the third quarter. Penn State responded with a quick five points on its next two possessions to command a 64-59 lead into the fourth quarter.