GREENVILLE, S.C. — The third time proved to be the easiest.
In the process, the Mississippi State women’s basketball added another piece of history to a record-breaking season.
Senior guard Dominique Dillingham had a team-high 14 points, while junior guard Morgan William added 12 points and five assists to lead second-seeded MSU to a 66-50 victory against sixth-seeded Texas A&M on Saturday before a crowd of 7,554 in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
“Another record today. Giving God the glory for No. 29,” MSU coach Vic Schaefer said. “It’s amazing. It’s an amazing group of young ladies I have been privileged to coach. I thought we played extremely well tonight.”
MSU (29-3), which eclipsed the program record for wins set last season in a run to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, will play South Carolina, which beat Kentucky 89-77 in the first semifinal, for the tournament title at 2 p.m. today (ESPN2). The winner will receive the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Dillingham recorded a double-figure scoring game for the sixth time this season. It was the second time she has led the squad in scoring.
“Before the game started, coach just told me to get to my spots,” Dillingham said. “In the previous two games, I got to my spots anytime I wanted. It was all about getting to my spots and knocking down shots and getting what I wanted.”
Moving up the charts
William’s double-figure scoring effort moved her five points away from 1,000 for her career. She has 33 points, 12 assists, and zero turnovers in the first two SEC tournament games.
“When a play is messed up, it is my responsibility, so I got to make sure we have a good possession each possession,” William said. “People have been leaving me open, so I have got to shoot the ball. They can’t sag off me. When I am able to knick down shots, I am able to attack and get my teammates open looks, so I am another scorer on the court. I just have been confident.”
Typically, beating a team three times in one season is one of the biggest challenges. MSU defeated Texas A&M 71-61 on Jan. 29 in Starkville. It rallied for a 72-67 victory on Feb. 19 in College Station, Texas. The win was the program’s first at Texas A&M.
But MSU didn’t have any problems earning its biggest margin of victory against Texas A&M in the eighth meeting in the series, which is now tied 4-4.
“We had two knock-down drag-outs with them, and I am sure three games in three days was a little much for them, especially with their depth issues,” Schaefer said. “But those kids played extremely hard, and I was proud of our kid for how hard they came out and played. I thought we came out with a lot of intensity. (I thought) we came out and executed offensively. I thought we were interested defensively, which is always something I can tell in the first five minutes. (We were)really locked in to trying to keep them from doing what they wanted to do.”
The Aggies were playing their third game in as many days. Texas A&M defeated Florida 67-48 on Thursday and Missouri 62-48 on Friday. The Aggies used strong second halves in both victories.
Starting strong
MSU hit its first four shots of the third quarter to deny Texas A&M any momentum. Dillingham had seven points in the quarter, while William had six to help the Bulldogs push the lead to as many as 24 points twice.
“We talked about coming out of the locker room and really kind of stepping our foot out there and putting it on them and not letting them up, and I thought we did that,” Schaefer said. “I thought our kids really came out with a focus and an intensity and did a really, really good job.”
MSU extended an 18-9 after one quarter with an 11-4 run to end the second quarter for a 34-20 halftime lead. Teaira McCowan, Blair Schaefer, William, Chinwe Okorie, and Ketara Chapel scored in that stretch to epitomize the Bulldogs’ balanced effort. The Bulldogs had assists on 12 of their 14 baskets. William led the way with four. The Bulldogs committed only two turnovers. They finished with 15 assists and seven turnovers, their fewest in three games against Texas A&M this season.
The multiple contributions were key because leading scorer Victoria Vivians, who was coming off a five-point effort against LSU on Friday in the quarterfinals, had only three points on 1-for-8 shooting in 16 minutes in the first half. She finished with 10 points on 4-for-14 shooting in 30 minutes.
Texas A&M (21-11) will await its seeding for the NCAA tournament when the pairings are released at 6 p.m. Monday, March 13 (ESPN).
Danni Williams, Texas A&M’s leading scorer entering the game at 16.9 points per game fouled out with 9:10 remaining in the game. She had 13 points. Texas A&M center Khaalia Hillsman fouled out with 7:37 to go. She had eight points.
“The two best teams are going to play tomorrow for the title,” Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. “That is good for the SEC.
“Mississippi State played great.”
Big game ahead
Today’s game will be MSU’s chance for revenge after a 64-61 loss on Jan. 23 in Columbia, South Carolina. The Bulldogs had multiple chances to take the lead or tie the game in the final minutes.
Schaefer and Dillingham said MSU will enter the rematch with a lot of confidence. They also hope the second time against the Gamecocks will work out like the third time against the Aggies.
“We know we can play with them and win,” Dillingham said.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
