STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women’s basketball improved to 4-0 on the season with an 82-55 win over Jackson State on Thursday at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs took the lead through a 9-0 run in the opening two minutes of action, kickstarting a dominant 22-5 first quarter. The Tigers recovered to keep pace in the second quarter, but a 41-24 halftime lead still reflected a strong Bulldog advantage.

Over the middle quarters, the Tigers kept up with the Bulldogs mostly step for step, with the only difference on the scoreboard being the early advantage. The Tigers took plenty of shots, but the early hole dropped the team’s percentage well below 40%, while the Bulldogs converted around 50% of their shots from the field throughout the game.

The Bulldogs pulled away again in the fourth quarter, creating the final bit of separation between the teams with

Favour Nwaedozi continued her strong start to life in maroon and white with her third double-double in four games, scoring 18 and grabbing 15 boards.

The junior transfer was joined in double-digit points by five other teammates. Guards Destiney McPhaul, Trayana Crisp and Chandler Prater all got past the mark, as did freshmen Jaylah Lampley and Madison Francis. Lampley closed in on Nwaedozi in the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of her own as the Bulldogs sealed the win.

MSU wasn’t prolific from beyond the arc, but scored more than 50 points in the paint to utilize the physical advantage over the Tigers.

The Bulldogs will travel for their first road test next week, facing their first Power Four opponent of the season in Texas Tech. The teams will meet in Lubbock next Thursday at 6 p.m.