STARKVILLE — With just seven players available, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team recorded a second straight Southeastern Conference win Sunday, coming from behind to beat Vanderbilt 70-63 at Humphrey Coliseum.
With leading scorer Rickea Jackson still out, guard Anastasia Hayes led the team with 31 points on 11-of-20 shooting, making several clutch shots down the stretch as the Bulldogs took control late in the fourth quarter.
After a quiet first half, sophomore JerKaila Jordan scored 9 key points during the second and finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds. Caterrion Thompson hit big shot after big shot but none bigger than her 3-pointer that tied the game at 52-52 and sparked a 14-0 run to give MSU, which entered the fourth quarter trailing 46-45, an 11-point lead with fewer than four minutes to play.
Defensively, the Bulldogs had to adjust throughout the game to accommodate for missing players and Vandy’s size advantage, but they forced several key turnovers, especially in the final few minutes.
The crowd of 4,417 clearly enjoyed the Bulldogs’ effort, and the players responded to the crowd.
“It’s just a special place at the Hump,” said Myah Taylor, who, despite three first-half fouls, finished with 6 points, 3 steals, 3 rebounds and a team-high 6 assists. “They really just light up the Hump. Every home game, we’re going to need them there, and I just know that we’re going to keep playing hard for them.
“Shout out to the fans today, they really came through.”
This Mississippi State team has had plenty of excuses for underperforming, but their resilience and determination has shown just how much grit this squad has. Interim head coach Doug Novak has had to manage several interruptions that were beyond the team’s control, but the Bulldogs’ growth has been noticeable.
“They’ve stuck it out, and we’ve been relentlessly patient in teaching the way we think the game should be played,” Novak said. “At some point in time they have to be rewarded for that, or for plays, or have a feeling that they’re getting better in the course of a season or during practice.
“I don’t care if it’s men, women, college, high school, NBA, when people feel like they’re getting better, when they can see a light at the end of the tunnel, when there’s hope, there’s a chance for growth. I think we’re starting to see it and feel it, and it’s a special thing to be a part of.”
Mississippi State (11-4, 2-1 SEC) has road games at Kentucky and Ole Miss next week before returning home for a clash with Georgia on Jan. 20.
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