East Mississippi Community College Director of Athletics and head women’s basketball coach Sharon Thompson was honored along with the rest of the Class of 2020 and 2021 inductees into the Mississippi State University Sports M-Club Hall of Fame on Saturday at halftime of the football game against LSU.
The six-member Class of 2020 features All-American defensive lineman Billy Jackson and coach/director of athletics Bob Tyler from football along with baseball standout Bobby Thigpen, three-time All-SEC pick Ray White of men’s basketball and the NCAA Championship women’s tennis doubles tandem of Jackie Holden and Claire Pollard. The 2021 Class consists of Thompson and football’s Charlie Weatherly, who has served Mississippi State University for 58 years.
A 1998 graduate of MSU, Thompson ended her career as the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (936), blocked shots (86), and double-doubles as well as second in scoring (1,526). The two-time All-SEC honoree was a first-team selection as a senior, when she averaged 16.8 points and 8.9 rebounds. Her rebound total still ranks fourth all time.
Thompson was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after recording 12.8 points and 9.6 rebounds, a rebounding average that ranks ninth for a single season and second among freshmen at MSU. She was the team’s leading shot blocker for three of her four years and the leading rebounder each season.
Thompson became the first Mississippi State women’s basketball player to be drafted professionally when she was the sixth overall pick in the 1998 ABL draft. In 2005, she was named an SEC Great.
“Being inducted into the Mississippi State Sports Hall of Fame is a very rewarding honor,” Thompson said. “I am ecstatic about it and very appreciative for this recognition. It’s one of the biggest accomplishments an athlete can receive, and I’m grateful for it. Some of my fondest memories are definitely the relationships I developed with people, beating top-ranked teams and getting my degree as a Mississippi State University graduate.”
Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in educational psychology from MSU and earned a master’s in physical education from the University of West Alabama in 2003. She began her career at EMCC in 2001 as assistant women’s basketball coach on Dale Peay’s staff, taking over as head coach four years later.
She owns a career record of 203-176, including two MACCC coach of the year awards. Highlights include a 24-3 record two years ago that brought the Lions their first conference championship since 1984 and a 25-7 season in 2009 that landed them in the NJCAA Tournament for the first time since 1978.
Volleyball
Bulldogs earn first win over Florida
Mississippi State’s volleyball team rode several career performances Friday to a 3-2 triumph over No. 17 Florida in Gainesville, Florida.
The Bulldogs posted a 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, 21-25, 15-13 victory, coming back from 4-1, 9-6 and 11-9 deficits in the fifth set. The Gators committed a service error and an attack error at 13-13, causing the State bench to begin the celebration of the Bulldogs’ first victory over the eight-time NCAA Final Four participant and two-time NCAA runner-up.
“This team doesn’t stop fighting, and this team never stops believing in one another,” MSU coach Julie Darty Dennis said. “We talk about composure, belief and trust all the time because those are the strongholds we want our program to be about. The team was so dialed in on getting the job done, taking care of the ball and taking care of each other. When they have fun, they take care of each other and play with a lot of love and joy. It’s such a fun group to watch.”
The Bulldogs are 10-4, 1-1 in the SEC, while the Gators are 7-5, 1-1.
Sophomore Shania Cromartie belted a career-high 25 kills and added 10 digs to tuck away her third double-double of the season. Junior Lauren Myrick contributed 14 kills and 11 digs for her third consecutive double-double, while senior Gabby Wadaen banged 14 kills, 4 digs and 3 blocks.
As a team, Mississippi State manufactured 67 kills and a .260 hitting percentage. The Bulldogs converted on 67 percent of their sideout attempts during sets two, three and five.
Mississippi State’s SEC home opener is a weekend series with LSU on Oct. 1-2. The Bulldogs will play five of their next seven matches inside the Newell-Grissom Building. Friday’s first serve is on-tap for 6 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. tilt Saturday. Admission is free for all home volleyball matches with gates opening one hour prior to first serve.
Women’s soccer
Bulldogs drop home opener to Gators
A comeback effort came up short on Sunday night as Mississippi State dropped a 2-1 decision to Florida.
The Gators (3-5-3, 2-0-1 SEC) struck in the 30th and 35th minutes to take the lead. Kit Loferski scored the opening goal on a breakaway attempt after running on to a flicked-on header from Kouri Peace. Georgia Eaton-Collins then scored with a header off of a corner kick.
Mississippi State (2-4-3, 0-2-1 SEC) had the run of play early, taking three shots in the first 15 minutes. Onyi Echegini forced a save, and Olivia Simpson’s effort narrowly missed outside the top corner of the net. Macey Hodge also sent an attempt over the bar.
After Florida took a lead, Ally Perry struck the crossbar with a shot. With State trailing by two goals, Perry connected a pass for Hailey Farrington-Bentil who beat her defender for a one-on-one opportunity with the keeper. She slotted the ball into the opposite corner of the net in the 38th minute to close the gap.
State outshot Florida 13-2 during the second half and earned three corners. The Bulldogs took five shots in the final 15 minutes, including two headers that sailed wide and high off of a cross and a corner. In the 86th minute, Simpson had MSU’s best effort with a header that was blocked by a defender.
The Bulldogs remain at home Thursday against Kentucky. That match will be nationally televised on SEC Network beginning at 6 p.m.
Women’s golf
Bulldogs 11th after strong third round
Hannah Levi carded a 1-under with 14 birdies to lead Mississippi State to an 11th-place finish at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin, Tennessee.
The Bulldogs compiled a third-round score of 13-under 275, with Blair Stockett shooting 6-under and Julia Lopez Ramirez 4-under for the third round. Overall, each tied for 38th with a 3-over 219, but on Sunday Stockett tied for the lowest individual round in school history while Lopez Ramirez recorded five birdies.
Valeria Mendizabal shot 1-under in the third round to bring her three-day total to 3-over (219) for the event to tie for 38th.
As a team, the Bulldogs carded 13-under par in the third round, tying the lowest third-round score in program history and marking the second-lowest round at MSU.
Mississippi State will return to action Oct. 4 when the Bulldogs open play at the Windy City Collegiate Classic hosted by Northwestern in Chicago.
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