STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer loves players who have fun and compete every possession on both ends of the floor.
That’s probably the reason the Mississippi State women’s basketball coach is enjoying the play of seniors Jordan Danberry, Jazzmun Holmes, and Teaira McCowan so much. Danberry scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds Thursday in No. 7 MSU’s 93-69 victory against Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference for both teams.
McCowan added 16 points and 22 rebounds for the 50th double-double of her career, while Holmes had 14 points, four rebounds, five assists (one turnover), and three steals to help MSU improve to 13-1.
Schaefer will look for those three to continue to play at a high level at 4 p.m. Sunday (SEC Network) when No. 7 MSU plays host to No. 16 Kentucky in a SEC game at Humphrey Coliseum.
“Jo really got off to a hot start and played very well back home,” Schaefer said of the native of Conway, Arkansas. “I was real pleased with Jazz. I thought she ran our team. If there is a better point guard from a playing standpoint and production, I would like to know who it is because she is really doing a good job running our team.
“I thought T(eaira) was really good competing every possession, every play both ends of the floor. That is what you have to have from your seniors.”
MSU is averaging 92.6 points per game, which is No. 1 in the nation. The Bulldogs have scored 90 or more points eight times this season. That mark will be put to the test by a Kentucky team that is 14-1 and is first in the nation in turnover margin (11.2) and fourth nationally and first in the SEC in turnovers forced per game (24.2).
MSU will counter Kentucky’s defense with balance. With four players — McCowan (16.6 points per game), Anriel Howard (15.5), Danberry (13.1), and Chloe Bibby (11.6) — in double figures, MSU has the lowest difference in field goal attempts from its top double-digit scorer (Howard, 153) to its lowest (Bibby, 126), provided all four have 100 or more attempts and all four are in double figures.
That balance was on display against Arkansas, as Danberry was 11-for-21 from the field. McCowan (7-for-11 from the field) recorded her 11th double-double of the season as the only other Bulldog with double-digit shot attempts. Seven MSU players had six shot attempts or more.
MSU’s balance is translating to productivity. Last season at this point, MSU had three players in double figures, was averaging 86.4 ppg., and was shooting 47.9 percent from the field. This season, MSU is setting the scoring pace nationally by shooting 51.4 percent from the field, which is fifth nationally.
Schaefer said following the 2017-18 season that the 2018-19 team was going to be “different.” He raised that point again Friday when he referenced a conversation with a friend following the victory against Arkansas.
“He said, ‘Man, I didn’t think you could be any better than you were a year ago. You’re definitely different, but you’re really talented,’ ” Schaefer said. “If we have a problem, if we have a shortcoming, if we don’t attain our goals, it won’t be on talent. That’s not going to be our issue. … I still think this team has a lot of area to grow. That word grow, some of it is basketball and a lot of it not basketball. If we fall short, it is not going to be because of our lack of talent.”
Danberry, who transferred from Arkansas to MSU, said she didn’t have a point to prove Thursday against her former team. Instead, she said her performance was a reflection of her growing confidence and her development.
“It was a pretty special night to have my family, friends, and hometown come out to the game,” Danberry said. “It was a good environment, and it was my last time I probably will ever get to play in Arkansas again.
“It was just me having fun and playing in front of my family.”
Schaefer said Danberry’s ability to get to her spot never has been an issue. Her ability to get out in transition, especially with Holmes, has aided MSU’s knack for scoring quickly and efficiently.
“We’re trying to get Jordan in a position on the floor where she can do what she does,” Schaefer said. “It is the same for Teaira. … We have to put kids in a position to be successful, and, hopefully, that is what we have done with all of our players.”
NOTE: MSU had a crowd of 10,242 for its 104-36 victory against Louisiana on Dec. 30, 2018. MSU is third in the SEC behind South Carolina (10,945) and Tennessee (7,842) in average attendance at 7,463. With eight regular-season SEC home games remaining, including matchups against South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, this could be the first season in program history MSU ranks as high as No. 2 in the league in average attendance. MSU doesn’t figure to be able to surpass South Carolina because the capacity for Colonial Life Arena, the home for the school’s women’s and men’s basketball teams, is 18,000. The capacity for MSU’s Humphrey Coliseum has been as high as 10,794, which is the program’s all-time best set against South Carolina on Feb. 5, 2018.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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