STARKVILLE — Guards Anastasia Hayes, JerKaila Jordan and Myah Taylor led the way during a 35-7 run during the third quarter Sunday night as the Mississippi State women’s basketball team improved to 3-0 with an 86-63 win over Alcorn State at Humphrey Coliseum.
Jordan led the team with 26 points and 8 rebounds, while Hayes scored 20 points and Taylor finished with 15 points and 9 assists.
The Bulldogs started the game slowly, and looked a bit out of sorts as they had to adapt to key absences, including Rickea Jackson. Only eight players were active, and at halftime they led only 31-30, but eventually they handled their business comfortably with a dominant all-around display during the third quarter.
“Eventually if you keep taking the right shots it’ll be OK, but I was worried about how they were looking and talking at each other,” Bulldogs interim head coach Doug Novak said of the team’s slow start. “They inspired each other (during the second half), and as usual the defense can spark the offense.”
Jackson’s absence was notable, but Novak noted her leadership persisted even from the sideline.
“We should find something out tomorrow, it was more of a precaution,” Novak said of Jackson’s injury. “It’s different when she’s not out there for sure, and she added value from the bench and in the locker room at halftime.”
Though the regular trio of guards started for the Bulldogs, Novak had to replace Jakcson in the lineup and continued rotating his options at the 5. Raven Farley got the start, but freshman Denae Carter saw regular minutes off the bench. Charlotte Kohl, the starter in the Bulldogs’ first two games, saw limited time off the bench.
“They’re starting to form an identity together,” Novak said, “and there are certain matchups better for certain games, but I don’t see a game where we don’t use all three of them. I think they know more than they think, but you just have to go through it.”
The center-by-committee approach has given Novak a good look at his options after an opening week of games, and winning three games despite being banged up is reason for optimism.
The Bulldogs have a week of preparation before their next game, which will be against Behtune-Cookman on Nov. 22 at The Hump.
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