STARKVILLE – A four-game SEC losing streak ended for Mississippi State women’s basketball on Sunday with one of the team’s best performances of the season. The Bulldogs shook a heartbreaking midweek loss to No. 5 Vanderbilt and came out firing against No. 7 Kentucky, taking a 71-59 game at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs started fast with a big lineup featuring all three of the regular forwards of Favour Nwaedozi, Madison Francis and Kharyssa Richardson. Francis was a game-time decision, but got the start and played the game with a protective mask on.
Similar to their last game out against Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs hit a rough patch in the second quarter that saw the visitors get back into the game. Kentucky’s shooters hit just 3-21 from the floor through the first 15 minutes or so, but went on a 14-0 run to overcome an 11-point deficit and take a 33-30 lead into halftime.
The third quarter brought some more defensive basketball, but MSU gained some momentum in the final few minutes to retake the lead, going on a 9-0 run and outscoring the Wildcats 18-11 in the frame.
MSU’s momentum carried over on offense, especially for Trayanna Crisp and Richardson. They led 48-44 going into the fourth quarter and quickly added with some tough buckets in the paint and a pair of triples to establish a 59-49 lead with 7:23 to play, prompting a timeout from the Wildcats.
Richardson took her tally over the 20-point mark late in the final frame as the Bulldogs closed in on the upset, but there was still work to do. The Wildcats got on a 7-0 run going into the final three minutes, hitting a triple to try and kickstart a final push for a comeback.
The Bulldogs broke the run with a pair of free throws by Richardson with 1:30 left, who then grabbed a key rebound on the defensive end. Nwaedozi completed her double-double as the clock ticked down into the final minute, putting the end in sight with an 11-point lead.
Richardson finished atop the scoresheet for MSU with 23, followed by Crisp on 16 and Nwaedozi on 10 with a remarkable 21 rebounds.
MSU is back in action on the road at Alabama next Sunday at 2 p.m.
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