Barnum leads Mississippi State over Texas A&M

Credit: Mississippi State Athletics

Mississippi State earned its fourth-straight victory with a 74-63 road win over Texas A&M inside Reed Arena on Sunday.

Graduate student forward Erynn Barnum dominated inside all afternoon with 22 points on 9-11 from the field and 4-6 from the free throw line, in addition to six rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes. The point total for Barnum was her first 20-plus point contest of the season and surpasses her previous Mississippi State high.

Senior guard Jerkaila Jordan added her 10th career double-double and sixth of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes, while senior guard Darrione Rogers turned 18 points and five rebounds in 30 minutes.

With the win, Mississippi State swept a three-contest week and improved to 19-5 overall and 6-3 in the SEC. The Bulldogs have now won six of their last seven contests.

Mississippi State trailed 11-2 in the opening minutes of the first quarter before it used 10-2 spark that was closed out on a pair of technical foul free throws from Rogers to cut the deficit to one. Texas A&M scored the final four points of the opening quarter to take a 17-12 lead after the first 10 minutes.

A transition three from Rogers secured Mississippi State its first lead the opening basket at 22-21 with 4:06 left in the second quarter. Mississippi State closed out the first half on an 18-2 run to command a 31-23 lead entering the locker room.

Mississippi State turned in 13 points off 13 Texas A&M first half turnovers. Jordan led all players with 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half.

Texas A&M used a quick run out of half to tie the game at 36 heading into the third quarter media timeout. Rogers knocked down her second three of the contest with a deep triple on a fast break to secure Mississippi State a 43-40 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Mississippi State led 51-46 at the fourth quarter media timeout after eight straight-points from Barnum. Mississippi State extended its largest lead of the game at 59-46 with 3:42 left in regulation.

Mississippi State forced 22 turnovers in the contest – the most it has forced in a conference game this season.

Mississippi State returns to action inside Humphrey Coliseum when it hosts Georgia on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT.