STARKVILLE – The final score at Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday indicated another comfortable win for the Lady Bulldogs.

Head coach Sam Purcell saw his team improve to 4-0 with six players reaching double-digits in scoring and a collective 55% conversion rate from the field in an 82-55 win over Jackson State.

The performance was not always controlled for the hosts, with the Bulldogs only edging the visitors by one point over the middle two quarters, but dominant first and final frames saw MSU through to another comfortable win.

“The second quarter was on me,” Purcell said. “I wanted to try some other stuff for situational basketball that’s going to come up later, and I thought we got a little sloppy with the defensive end. And give credit to Jackson State. I told their coach I have a lot of respect for her, their program. There’ll be some great film for my other players to watch, how hard (JSU) played despite the score, and I told their coach I hope she can keep the group together because it wouldn’t surprise me if they make a run and win their conference.”

Purcell’s group has worked well to adjust offensively this season, adding a quicker tempo to their play compared to previous teams, and working through those growing pains has yielded some prolific offensive performances.

“How can we showcase their talents? We put them in positions where we might have lost the height, but we’ve got the quickness, shooting, but most importantly, they have passing,” Purcell said. “So we changed the offense up a little bit, and I was really glad to see a lot of movement, a lot of cutting and playing the game the right way.”

Favour Nwaedozi led the way again, hitting a new personal best with 18 points to help complete her third double-double of the young season.
The junior transfer quickly earned a starting role, anchoring the defense and spearheading the offense in the pain to help complement a quicker, more incisive offense.

Nwaedozi has already earned the trust and affection of teammates, with Chandler Prater remarking, “She’s so humble and just wants to get better, wants everyone around her to get better. We’re so blessed to have her as a teammate. You couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”

Her presence is felt on the court as well, and has opened up shots for teammates to add to the tally themselves.

Another standout on the night was freshman Jaylah Lampley, who scored 17 points on 7-8 shooting and has continued to earn playing time in her first year with smart handles, shooting range and passing. She nearly caught up to Nwaedozi’s tally in the final minutes without even realizing it.

“I think when you’re so excited to play with great teammates, you don’t worry about the stats,” Lampley said after the game.

The true freshman is getting plenty of minutes alongside classmate Madison Francis, and their transition has been made easier by the welcoming team environment. The players have been quick to celebrate each other early on this year, and it’s shown up on the court as well.

“I think we’re just unselfish as a team,” Lampley said. “It’s a no-brainer that we have six players with double digits. Very unselfish, very efficient. We get in the gym every day, trying to get 1% better every day.

The Bulldogs go on the road for the first time next week, matching up with Texas Tech in Lubbock for an early Power Four test.
Purcell, who praised his team for their fast start, recognizes it’s only the beginning, and the Red Raiders will be another level up as the season gets rolling.

“I want to give my young women a lot of credit for these first four games,” Purcell said. “We’re off to a great start, and now, understanding don’t get satisfied in games. Practice is where this next level is. Stay hungry, because there’s no doubt we have a huge test on the road in Texas Tech, who is really good, a championship culture program. They have a rich history, a great fan base and they’re off to a phenomenal start as well this year.”

The Bulldogs will tip off in Lubbock next Thursday at 6 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+.