STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball team hit the century mark for the first time this season, routing McNeese State 102-55 as Rickea Jackson scored a career-high 40 points.
The Bulldogs started fast against a Cowgirls team that was no match for them, taking a 32-9 lead after the first quarter. They forced 16 first-half turnovers and scored 56 points by halftime.
“It really set the tone and perhaps rattled them a little bit,” Bulldogs coach Doug Novak said of the fast start and pressure defense. “I thought we played with great joy and passion and set the tone early.”
The Bulldogs looked fresh off of a tough loss to Michigan over the weekend.
“We were really sharing it, and Rickea ended up being the recipient of most of those, but those guards were really sharing the ball,” Novak said. “We were really unselfish, and the greatest joy this team has is when that ball is flying around.”
For Jackson, it was a case of playing fun, free-flowing basketball as a team that got the best out of them on the night.
“When I play, in general I always have fun,” Jackson said, “But with this team and this offense it allows us to move the ball freely and play fun basketball. Us being able to be within ourselves with each other makes it fun.”
Jackson’s 40 points, 21 coming in the first half, are the 10th-most points scored in a single game at MSU and the third-most points scored in a game this season in all of Division I. In just 29 minutes, Jackson was 18 for 26 with 9 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. Her 18 made field goals was the most in a game since Teaira McCowan had 19 in a 41-point performance against Louisiana on Dec. 28, 2017.
Denae Carter recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, the latter mark a career high. Anastasia Hayes scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
JerKaila Jordan added 12 points and 3 blocked shots, her second consecutive game with 3 blocks. Myah Taylor dished out 10 assists and swiped 6 steals.
The Bulldogs (6-1) rebounded from their first loss with a dominant display at home before another road trip takes them to Norman, Oklahoma, to face the Sooners at 2 p.m. Saturday.
“I know they shoot a lot of 3s,” Novak said of Oklahoma. “I try not to get too many games ahead, but from what I saw it’s 87 points a game, flying up and down, and when you’re on the road your conversion defense is everything.”
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