STARKVILLE — Throwing the first punch in Southeastern Conference play is often the key between winning and losing and was most certainly the case for the Mississippi State women's basketball team on Sunday afternoon.
In the year’s first conference home game against No. 15 Kentucky, the Bulldogs threw a haymaker in the first 10 minutes leading by as many as 19 points. That would prove to be a hill too tall to climb for a Wildcat team that scratched and clawed for the next three quarters and the Bulldogs won their 18th-straight conference game with a 86-71 win at Humphrey Coliseum.
“It was a heck of a game. I’m really proud of my team,” head coach Vic Schaefer said. “We just kept competing. I thought the first quarter was obviously the difference in the game. It was a tremendous win.”
The sixth-ranked Bulldogs (14-1, 2-0) did it without star center Teaira McCowan’s best.
McCowan worked through foul trouble for most of the day and had just four points at halftime. She scored six points quickly out of the locker room but picked up a fourth foul that kept her out for most of the third and fourth quarters. She finished the day with a double-double, scoring 13 points and pulling down 10 rebounds despite limited playing time.
Without McCowan on the floor, the Bulldogs still found their ways to get to the boards and score points. They were doing that early as they jumped out to a 26-11 lead after one quarter and they led by as much as 19 points in the opening frame.
That would turn out to be the big difference in the game as the Wildcats fought but couldn’t stay in it. MSU was sloppy on offense with a season-high 24 turnovers but they still continue to score at a high efficiency.
“Turnover wise I know that we can be better and that all starts with me,” Jazzmun Holmes said. “We have a lot of weapons on our team and can do a lot of things offensively if we take care of the ball.
While McCowan had a modest 13 points and 10 rebounds, the Bulldogs got it done elsewhere.
Anriel Howard led the way on both ends of the floor as the senior put in 36 minutes and was rewarded with 21 points and 12 rebounds. MSU also had 18 points from Chloe Bibby who added seven rebounds in a team-high 37 minutes.
The production offensively continued in large thanks to the guards. Jordan Danberry had another big game with 17 points and five assists and point guard Holmes filled up the stat sheet with eight points, six rebounds, six steals and five assists.
“I just think that we’re skilled. Jordan is really playing at a high level and she’s consistent right now,” Schaefer said. “Jazz was herself in the game. She provides so much energy. I’m really pleased with our offensive production.”
What was the toughest thing to overcome for Kentucky was the Bulldogs work on the boards. For every turnover that the Bulldogs committed was another offensive rebound to make up for lost opportunity.
MSU finished the game with a commanding 48 to 24 advantage on the boards with the double-double performances from McCowan and Howard leading the way. 25 of those rebounds were offensive as MSU had more offensive boards than Kentucky had total.
It made for a frustrating night watching by MSU graduate Matthew Mitchell who lost his fourth-straight game to the Bulldogs in the last two years after winning the first eight he had against Schaefer. Having seen the Bulldogs three times last year, he sees yet another scary team that’s on the horizon for the rest of the conference.
Despite the loss, Mitchell had another great turnout of Winston county faithful who made the trip over to Starkville, some of which who sat behind the bench. That group included Mitchell’s former coach and Winston Academy headmaster Farrell Rigby who has been to see him coach against the Bulldogs each year.
“I woke up (Sunday morning), opened the curtain and saw that Mississippi sunrise,” Mitchell said. “I love this state. I’m proud to be from Louisville. My high school coach was behind the bench and so many people that have supported me.
“I think there’s a lot of new women’s basketball fans here at Mississippi State and they don’t know that I’m a (MSU) graduate so they weren’t very nice to me. But it’s great to come back and see people that have loved and supported me all of my life.”
