When the Missouri and Mississippi State women’s basketball programs tipped off on Thursday night, everyone watched to see how the Bulldogs would respond following the transfer of their leading scorer Rickea Jackson.
“[Mississippi State is] going to turn one or two ways,” Missouri head coach Robin Pingeton said. “They’re either going to rally the troops and battle for each other, or they’re going to surrender and throw in the towel.”
Mississippi State stepped up in the absence of its former star, routing Missouri 77-62 in one of the Bulldogs’ best offensive performances of the season.
The Tigers could not keep up with Mississippi State’s perimeter shooting, nor did they take care of the ball. The Bulldogs finished a season-high 14-27 from beyond the arc and scored 24 points off of 20 Missouri turnovers.
Mississippi State entered the contest with the SEC’s lowest 3-point shooting at 26.6%, but it exposed the Tigers’ perimeter defense that had limited opponents to a 31.6% mark before the Bulldogs’ efficient night.
Missouri dominated the boards with a 34-22 rebounding advantage, including 10 offensive rebounds to Mississippi State’s two. The Tigers scored 13 second-chance points while the Bulldogs managed only 2.
However, Missouri’s carelessness with the basketball proved to be the difference. From bad passes to travels and even offensive fouls, the Tigers found every way to give Mississippi State extra possessions.
“You’re not giving yourself a chance when you have 20 turnovers,” Pingeton said. “Give [Mississippi State] some credit, but I think we’ve got to take ownership of at least 10 of those [turnovers].”
Bulldogs redshirt senior guard Myah Taylor finished the contest with six of Mississippi State’s 12 steals. Graduate guard Caterrion Thompson added a career-high three steals for the Bulldogs and led their offensive assault.
Thompson scored a career-high 27 points with a career-high seven 3-pointers, including four in the first half. Redshirt senior guard Anastasia Hayes finished with 24 points and made nine free throws.
Missouri junior guard Aijha Blackwell posted her 10th consecutive double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. Redshirt senior guard Haley Troup and junior forward Hayley Frank combined for 24 points and a 3-6 performance from beyond the arc.
“I don’t think this was one of our better offensive nights,” Pingeton said. “I think we had a hard time getting into a groove.”
The Tigers jumped out to a 5-2 lead within the game’s first two minutes, but Thompson began Mississippi State’s impressive shooting display with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 5 apiece. Redshirt senior forward LaDazhia Williams responded with a layup to give Missouri a lead, but it would not last long.
A 13-2 run over the next four minutes gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not squander the rest of the game. Thompson knocked down a 3-pointer, Taylor hit a layup and Hayes added two additional 3-pointers to lead the flurry of points.
Missouri closed the quarter with a 10-6 stretch of its own, which featured 3-pointers from freshman forward Kiya Dorroh and Blackwell, but entered the second quarter with a 5-point deficit.
The second quarter proved to be Mississippi State’s most efficient period from beyond the arc at 66.7%. The Bulldogs traded baskets with Missouri early but grabbed their first double-digit lead late in the second quarter with a Hayes 3-pointer followed by a steal and layup from Thompson.
After an efficient offensive display from both sides, the Tigers and Bulldogs went scoreless for the final 1:41 of the first half. Mississippi State entered halftime with a 46-36 lead due largely to its 10 first-half 3-pointers and a 59.3% performance from the field.
Williams brought Missouri back within single digits with a layup to begin the second half, but the Bulldogs forced four turnovers and used an 11-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 19-point advantage.
Mississippi State traded baskets with the Tigers for the remainder of the third quarter and took a 63-46 lead into the fourth. The Bulldogs held Missouri to 0-4 from beyond the arc in the third period and only allowed the Tigers to score 10 points.
Missouri forced Mississippi State into a timeout early in the fourth quarter following a quick 8-0 run over the two minutes of the fourth quarter, which cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 63-54. However, Mississippi State killed the Tigers’ momentum with 5 quick points, including another Thompson 3-pointer.
With six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Blackwell hit a layup to bring Missouri within 12 points. Over the next three and a half minutes, the Tigers would hold the Bulldogs scoreless, giving them a chance to cut into the deficit. However, Missouri committed three turnovers and only managed 2 points, allowing Mississippi State to hold onto its double-digit lead.
The Tigers began fouling with a 15-point deficit, but Haynes drained four free throws to close out the game and give the Bulldogs a 77-62 victory.
“We’ve all got to look ourselves in the mirror and take responsibility,” Pingeton said. “I didn’t think we brought our best self today, so we’ve got to own that and go back to the drawing board.”
Missouri dropped to 15-6 (4-4 SEC) with the loss, while Mississippi State improved to 12-7 (3-4 SEC). The Tigers will travel back to Mizzou Arena for their game against Ole Miss on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Edited by Riley Gearhart | rgearhart@themaneater.com
