STARKVILLE — Breanna Richardson couldn’t help break into a broad smile Tuesday night following the No. 23 Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s 109-58 victory against North Dakota State.
Richardson had every reason to be pleased with a 17-point, 13-rebound performance that was a part of five players in double figures and a season-high 12 Bulldogs in the scoring column.
The trick now for the 6-foot-1 sophomore forward is to find a way to deliver similar efforts every night to make the Bulldogs an even deeper and more dangerous team.
“I don’t know, just going out and playing,” Richardson said when asked what she will have to do to duplicate her outing. “I finally got in. Once you get the feel of the game it is easy and you just play, so I just went out there and played.”
Victoria Vivians shook off the effects from a rolled ankle and paced MSU with 26 points, while LaKaris Salter (16 points in nine minutes), Morgan William (12), and Sherise Williams (11) joined Richardson in double figures. The balanced scoring attack helped push MSU to a 7-0 start for the first time in back-to-back seasons in program history. The latest win came on a day in which the Bulldogs broke into the USA Today Coaches Top 25 at No. 25. On Monday, MSU climbed two spots to No. 23 in The Associated Press poll.
The victory against North Dakota State (3-3) won’t do anything to harm MSU’s standing in either poll. The Bulldogs shot a season-best 51.9 percent (40 of 77) from the field, hit their most 3-pointers (11) in a game this season, and had their biggest rebounding margin (53-30). MSU also had a season-high 24 assists (13 turnovers) and never trailed in the game. The 109 points tied for sixth-most in school history, and gave the Bulldogs 80-plus points in six of their first seven games for the first time in program history.
Richardson’s production could help MSU continue its high-scoring ways. One season after she started 31 of 36 games, Richardson is in a new role coming off the bench. Sophomore Ketara Chapel has played well at the start of the season to take the job as the team’s starting power forward, or four player. Richardson did all she could do to make an impression on coach Vic Schaefer and to tell him she deserves more than the 20 minutes she played Tuesday night. Richardson didn’t enter the game until the 9-minute, 49-second mark in the first half.
Richardson had one of her most consistent and aggressive performances on both ends of the floor in posting the fifth double-double of her career, and first of the season. On offense, she skied to grab an offensive rebounds in the final minute to punctuate her performance. Earlier in the half, she showcased her versatility by hitting a 3-pointer off an assist from Vivians, scoring on a hook shot on the block, scoring on an offensive rebound putback, and scoring on a drive to the basket.
“I need Breanna Richardson to get that double-double every night,” Schaefer said. “I need her to get untracked. She has to go do it. I can’t play for her. To see her get 13 and 17 does my heart good.”
Richardson, who entered the game averaging seven points and four rebounds, which is down from her averages of 9.5 and 5.9 last season, wasn’t sure if she played with an extra pep or energy.
“I guess sometimes if I see the rebound I just (tell myself), ‘OK, that’s mine. Go ahead and get it,’ ” Richardson said.
Chapel had seven points and four rebounds in her seventh start of the season. With Salter vying for more minutes, the improved play of Williams, and the return of senior center Martha Alwal, who had two points, two rebounds, and two blocked shots in 12 minutes in her second game of the season, there is plenty of competition for playing time on the 14-player roster. The competition will get even tighter when senior Savannah Carter returns to 100 percent health. In the meantime, Richardson said she will continue to work hard in practice to make her presence known. She hopes that preparation will help her deliver more consistently in games.
“Coach just says when he subs you in either fix what is broken or just continue to play and keep whatever is going on going on,” Richardson said. “I don’t go out there to make a statement. I just go out there to play.
“I felt good. I am at the three (small forward) now, so there is more freedom.”
Schaefer hopes to see more efforts from Richardson like the one he saw against the Bison, regardless whether she is playing the three or the four.
“I love playing her out there on the perimeter,” Schaefer said. “It gives us another big guard, but to see her go attack those boards and get seven offensive rebounds and 13 total in 20 minutes … I need her to be better, and she was better tonight. … I loved how Breanna brought a different level of energy in the second half.”
MSU will play host to Southeastern Louisiana 2 p.m. Sunday (SEC Network +).
n at 11:15 a.m. today, MSU will have its second Hail State Hoops Luncheon at Mize Pavilion.
The luncheon will feature a meal, a guest speaker, and basketball talk with Schaefer about the Bulldogs.
Mize Pavilion doors will open at 11:15 a.m. The luncheon will begin at 11:30.
The cost per luncheon is $12, and fans who RSVP by phone (662.325.0198) or email ([email protected]) will be entered for the chance to win a door prize.
Luncheons also will be Monday, Dec. 15; Tuesday, Jan. 6; Tuesday, Jan. 20; Thursday, Feb. 5; and Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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