Jessika Carter had not been herself through Mississippi State’s first two games in Southeastern Conference play.
The Bulldogs’ veteran center was held to a combined 14 points in losses to Vanderbilt and South Carolina, and with Erynn Barnum also struggling, MSU’s post presence was in dire need of improvement heading into Thursday night’s road test against Arkansas.
Up against the SEC’s leading rebounder in Saylor Poffenbarger, Carter did everything the Bulldogs asked of her and more, tallying 22 points and 19 boards to help MSU withstand a furious Razorbacks rally and grab a 66-63 victory.
With the Bulldogs (14-4, 1-2 SEC) leading by two in the closing seconds, Carter blocked Samara Spencer’s layup on a drive to the basket, and as Spencer fell to the floor, the ball deflected off the Razorbacks’ guard and out of bounds, securing MSU’s first conference win of the season.
Carter and Barnum — who was returning to face her former team for the first time after spending four years at Arkansas — each had four points as the Bulldogs opened the game on a 10-0 run and scored 14 of their 16 first-quarter points in the paint.
The Razorbacks (13-5, 1-2) took the complete opposite approach, attempting 27 3-pointers in the first half and 38 in the game. They managed to get a few of them to fall late in the opening quarter to cut the deficit to three, but MSU controlled the second quarter to take a double-digit lead into the half.
Arkansas’ offense, after being held to nine points in that second quarter, erupted for 26 in the third, using an 11-0 run to tie the game. The hosts took their first lead of the night late in the fourth, but Carter came through when it mattered most, giving the Bulldogs the lead for good on a 3-point play with two and a half minutes to go.
Jerkaila Jordan, playing even after twisting her ankle in practice Wednesday, had 17 points and three steals, and Lauren Park-Lane was also in double figures with 11 points and seven assists. MSU out-rebounded Arkansas 50-37 and held the Razorbacks, the SEC’s worst shooting team, to 30.8 percent from the field.
The Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday to host rival Ole Miss for a 4 p.m. tip. MSU dropped both of last season’s meetings with the Rebels, who edged Auburn at home on Thursday night.
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