Bulldogs fall at No. 5/4 LSU to close out regular season
Credit: Mississippi State Athletics, Photo credit: Kevin Snyder
Mississippi State fell to the LSU Tigers 74-59 Sunday, ending the regular season 20-9 overall and 9-7 in the SEC.
The Bulldogs had a solid first quarter holding LSU scoreless for the final three minutes and shooting just 36 percent (5-for-14) from the field. Three-pointers were a struggle for both teams. A three-point shot was not scored until the final 1:32 of the first half by Ramani Parker, Mississippi State knocked down just four on the night, while LSU failed to make a three.
JerKaila Jordan continues to be a powerhouse on offense, scoring 16 points, four rebounds and two steals. Jordan ended the regular season with four straight games in double figures.
Jessika Carter scored 10 points and six rebounds, recording her 21st double-digit game of the season. Anastasia Hayes fed the Bulldogs the ball dishing out five assists on the night, while Ahlana Smith and Asianae Johnson each added seven points of their own.
Game Notes
- • Ramani Parker made her first career start
- • Bulldogs ended the second quarter on a 6-0 run, holding LSU scoreless for the final 2:56 of the quarter
- • State ended the third quarter on a 6-0 run
- • State’s bench outscored the Tigers 14-0
- • Bulldogs and Tigers tied with 36 points in the paint
- • State dished out 13 assists, while LSU had just eight
- • First time all season, LSU has not recorded a three-point make
Quoting Coach Sam Purcell
Opening Statement
“Proud of my team. Obviously, we wanted to win this game and end the regular season, but now to find out we are the No. 5 seed in the SEC as we close this regular season chapter, [I] couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve done. As far as this game, what a great start, 15-14 on the road. There were 15,000 fans on senior night, this place was electric. Like I’ve said to my team, there are so many great things that we can take from this game because we are going to be in this situation come the NCAA tournament, where we are on somebody’s home court, where it is loud. You couldn’t hear. You have to bottle that and learn from that if you want to steal one on somebody’s home court. We are going to close this one. We are going to get home, we will get rest, take off tomorrow and then obviously, we’ll talk about our two possible future opponents in that first game at the SEC tournament.”
