Anastasia Hayes, JerKaila Jordan and Myah Taylor combined to score 58 points, but it was a team effort defensively down the stretch that clinched a 70-59 win for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team over Ole Miss on Sunday at Humphrey Coliseum.
It was the sixth time this season the Bulldogs responded to a loss with a win, and they showed plenty of toughness and determination in yet another game they went into outnumbered.
“It’s so much fun,” MSU interim coach Doug Novak said. “I don’t know what our story is. We’re all over the map, and it is fascinating to watch.
“I have no idea which direction we’re going. I know we’re having a blast at practice, and we’re really there for each other. To have the fans recognize it, and again if that’s all we’re doing it for we’re not doing it for the right thing, but I’m not going to lie. It makes you feel like a million bucks to get patted on the back.”
After a tight first quarter, the Bulldogs were able to create some distance between themselves and their in-state rivals during the second quarter. They went into halftime up 35-22 on the back of good shooting from Hayes and Jordan, as well as an all-around strong defensive performance.
Ole Miss was able to keep pace a bit in the second half, but the Rebels never could close the gap on the Bulldogs, who remained strong defensively and continually found answers on offense. Big 3-pointers from Caterrion Thompson and Aislynn Hayes helped seal the deal down the stretch, as well as relentless defensive pressure whenever the visitors had the ball.
“On that defensive end is where you have absolute control over attitude and effort,” Novak said. “Again it shows toughness, and our team is really tough right now.”
It was also a little bit of a payback win for the Bulldogs after losing in Oxford back in January. Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said after that game: “We showed who the best program is right now, and that’s us. We plan on doing that again when we go to Starkville.”
It was a message that stuck with the Bulldogs, and Myah Taylor had a message of her own after the win.
“Shout out to the fans,” Taylor said, “and because Coach Doug won’t say it, we run the ’Sip!”
Up next the Bulldogs travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to take on the Wildcats at 5 p.m. Tuesday before returning home to face LSU at 6 p.m. Thursday. Both games will be available through ESPN+.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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