CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Teaira McCowan had 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Andra Espinoza-Hunter had 13 points in her first game to lead the No. 6 Mississippi State women’s basketball team to a 72-44 victory over Virginia at John Paul Arena.
Espinoza-Hunter was 5-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-8 from 3-point range, in 29 minutes. On Wednesday, the NCAA ruled the transfer from Connecticut was eligible to play this season.
Chloe Bibby added 13 points to help MSU improve to 2-0.
“Really proud of how we played in the first half,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “That was the best half we have played in a game, scrimmage or practice. We had a lot of energy. We executed well. We had three first-half turnovers. We got good shots. We got our shots. We also made those shots.”
The Bulldogs scored the first 11 points and held the Cavaliers scoreless for better than four minutes. A layup by Jazzmun Holmes extended the lead to 18-2.
Espinoza-Hunter hit a 3-pointer in the final half-minute of the first quarter for a 26-13 lead after one quarter.
In the second quarter, MSU reeled off 16-straight points to get things going. The Bulldogs held the Cavaliers close to six minutes without a point in that quarter.
In the first half, the Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field for a 45-17 halftime lead.
“Defensively, we played well,” Schaefer said. “We guarded hard and forced some turnovers. Proud of Espinoza-Hunter. She had been practicing but that was not a game. Proud of the seniors for setting the tone. A lot of top 25 teams are not playing this game right now.”
MSU was 29-for-66 from the field (43.9 percent), 7-for-23 shots from 3-point range (30.4), and 7-for-10 from the free-throw line (70). Virginia was 16-for-61 from the field (26.2), 5-for-13 from 3-point range (38.5), and 7-for-12 from the free-throw line (58.3).
Virginia held a 43-41 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 14 assists and 12 turnovers, while the Cavaliers had seven assists and 24 turnovers.
Dominique Toussaint led Virginia (0-1) with 19 points.
MSU will play host to Lamar at 7 p.m. Thursday. It will raise its 2018 National Finalist banner prior to its game against Coppin State at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18.
NOTE: The time for MSU’s game against Furman on Wednesday, Nov. 21, has changed to 2 p.m.
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