TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Around 1 a.m. Sunday, Vic Schaefer and his Mississippi State women’s basketball team were three hours into powerless pitch darkness.
The team hotel had lost power ahead of MSU’s 2 p.m. tip at Alabama, a team that, on paper, didn’t pose the heavyweight threat MSU encountered at Kentucky and what it likely will face Thursday at Southeastern Conference co-leader South Carolina.
When daybreak came, Schaefer knew his No. 14 Bulldogs would be in for a fight.
“I told our kids … they just looked bad,” Schaefer said.
Schaefer didn’t imagine going scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, shooting 26 percent in the first half, committing 21 turnovers, or having to defend a possible game-tying shot at the end of regulation. MSU also had to deal with the largest crowd in the history of Foster Auditorium — 3,133.
But clutch performances from freshmen Morgan William and Victoria Vivians, who scored 10 and 14, respectively, and a 48-24 rebounding edge were enough to help MSU escape with a 57-55 win.
“That’s life on the road,” Schaefer said. “I told the girls ‘you need to live.’ It’s kind of been our mantra all year. Get that sleepy off your face and get ready for a knock down, drag out.”
The win moved MSU to 25-4 and 10-4 in the SEC. In the process, it set a single-season record for wins. It also matched the program record for SEC wins in one season.
Coupled with Arkansas’ 63-41 victory against LSU on Sunday, MSU moved into a tie with Texas A&M for third in the SEC. If the regular-season ended today, MSU would earn the No. 3 seed and a bye until the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament on Friday, March 6, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. MSU defeated Texas A&M 63-61 in overtime on Feb. 8 in Starkville.
MSU’s rebounding edge proved to be a saving grace in the first half, as the Lady Bulldogs shot less than 20 percent for the majority of the first 20 minutes. MSU took twice as many shots as Alabama in the first half and finished the game with a 23-4 edge on the offensive glass.
MSU ran into a roadblock in the post, where it likes to initiate offense through 6-foot-4 senior center Martha Alwal. But Alabama’s zone defense crashed hard with quick double teams and active hands, forcing Alwal into five turnovers. The lack of success inside coupled with ice-cold perimeter shooting — Vivians, the team’s leading scorer at 15 points per game, had three points at halftime — created a recipe for disaster.
MSU fell behind 15-10 at the seven-minute mark before Alwal scored on three-straight possessions and freshmen Blair Schaefer and Lakaris Salter hit 3-pointers to give the Bulldogs a 27-25 halftime lead.
“They were doubling in the post, and they were playing extremely hard,” Schaefer said of Alabama. “They were being physical, bodying us when we turned around. They really took us off the block and took away our ability to use the drop step or any aggressive moves.”
Although Vivians found her shot in the second half, MSU had to contend with forward Ashley Williams, who was 8 of 11 from the field and had 21 points and five steals. The rest of the Crimson Tide’s players were 9 of 31 from the field.
“She was a monster,” Schaefer said. “We had no answer for her.”
Alabama coach Kristy Curry lauded her team’s defensive effort, particularly after playing three games against ranked opponents in six days. But the second-year Alabama head coach was disappointed in the lackluster effort by several starters on the offensive end.
“As tough as we played, we had some people who didn’t show up tonight,” Curry said. “We’re just not in a position to have that right now.”
Still, Alabama had a chance to send the game to overtime after Karyla Middlebrook (11 points) and Meoshonti Knight hit 3-pointers in the final two minutes to cut MSU’s lead to two. Williams came off a play and opted to drive the paint, where she was met by Dillingham, who rejected her shot, secured the loose ball, and dribbled away from the basket as the clock expired.
“I knew I had it clean,” Dillingham said. “They broke out of their set and she went one on one, and all I could think was ‘contest the shot, get the rebound, and don’t foul.’ ”
Said Schaefer, “We were fortunate to get our best defender on her.”
Alabama dropped its third-straight game and fifth of six played since the beginning of the month.
Alwal finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Dillingham had 10 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
MSU will take on No. 2 South Carolina at 6 p.m. Thursday (SportSouth).
NOTE: MSU will hold its final Hail State Hoops Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mize Pavilion. The cost for the luncheon is $12. Fans can RSVP by calling 662-325-0198, or emailing [email protected].
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