COLUMBUS, Ohio — Jordan Danberry has learned how to be ready.
When you’re referred to as an “energizer” off the bench, you grow accustomed to watching tendencies and preparing yourself mentally to impact the game when it’s your time.
Danberry knew Friday that Mississippi State women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer had plans for her against Louisville in the national semifinals. Schaefer doesn’t say a lot when he tells players to “be ready,” but the emphasis is clear.
Danberry received that message and made sure she delivered Friday night.
The 5-foot-8 junior transfer from Arkansas had arguably her biggest game as a Bulldog, scoring 10 points, grabbing four rebounds, and making three steals to help push MSU past Louisville 73-63 in overtime in the national semifinals before a crowd of 19,564 in the first national semifinal at Nationwide Arena.
“(Coach Schaefer) told me to be ready and I took that to mean I have to be prepared because my number was going to get called to play defense against Asia Durr,” Danberry said.
Danberry teamed with redshirt senior guard Roshunda Johnson to limit the Louisville All-America guard to 6-for-17 shooting, including 3-for-9 from 3-point range. Durr scored a team-high 18 points in 45 minutes, but she wasn’t allowed to take over the game, even though she hit two 3-pointers at the end of the third quarter to give Louisville a 48-46 lead.
“Getting her frustrated, Roshunda Johnson did a great job keeping her contained in the first half,” Danberry said. “Getting her frustrated was the key tonight, and I think we did that. She hit a big shot in the beginning, but I think Ro answered that back.”
Durr also hit a jump shot with 7 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give Louisville (36-3) a 53-46 lead.
But Danberry and the Bulldogs (37-1) continued to attack.
Victoria Vivians (game-high 25 points) converted a left-handed layup coming out of a MSU timeout. Danberry followed with a left-handed layup that crawled over the left side of the rim to cut the deficit and help the Bulldogs stall the Cardinals’ momentum.
“It definitely felt like I was playing the game I know how to play,” Danberry said. “It just felt comfortable out there. My teammates and my coaches had a lot of confidence in me, and that really helped me a lot and motivated me to keep playing hard.”
Danberry was her usual pest on defense, too. She hustled back to force a turnover on Myisha Hines-Allen. She then missed a shot in the lane, but Teaira McCowan (21 points, career-high 25 rebounds) rebounded the miss to give the Bulldogs a 54-53 lead.
Danberry helped seal the deal when she drained two free throws with 38.4 seconds remaining to kick MSU’s lead to 68-63. She added 1 of 2 free throws with 29.4 seconds to go and then stripped Durr of the basketball on a drive to help the Bulldogs close the game on a 9-0 run in the final 50.4 seconds.
“We knew she was a driver,” Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. “She attacked the rim. I’ve got to give her credit for stepping up and going 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. She hit some big free throws.”
Danberry said making her first three free throws helped her confidence. It was evident because Danberry didn’t hesitate when she stepped to the line with 38.4 seconds left and looked confident hitting both.
In the second quarter, Danberry set the tone with a driving layup in which she used her speed to beat nearly everyone down the court. She was fouled on the play and converted the free throw. She then fed Vivians with a nifty bounce pass on a back cut for a layup that gave MSU a 31-30 halftime lead.
Schaefer praised Danberry for making her mark on both ends of the court.
“Jordan Danberry comes off the bench and plays 26 minutes, really did a nice job on (Asia Durr),” Schaefer said. “That kid hasn’t played half that many all year, but she was really playing well today. She hit some big free throws for us.”
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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