Kentucky stops Mississippi State women’s basketball

Credit: Mississippi State Athletics

Mississippi State fell late to Kentucky, 78-68, inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 22. Mississippi State is now 20-8 overall and 7-6 in the SEC.

Graduate student center Jessika Carter finished with a team-high in points, rebounds and blocks with 20 points, 20 rebounds and four blocks in 37 minutes. It marked the first 20-plus point and 20-plus rebound performance since Teaira McCowan on Jan. 17, 2019.

Graduate student guard Lauren Park-Lane added 13 points and a team-high six assists in 30 minutes, while graduate student forward Erynn Barnum turned in 12 points and four rebounds in 32 minutes.

Mississippi State secured a 16-11 lead into the initial media timeout with 4:22 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs scored scored 16 of its first 18 points in the paint. Kentucky ended the first quarter on a 13-1 run to take a 27-22 lead after the first quarter.

Trailing 35-26, Mississippi State closed out the first half on an 8-0 to cut its deficit back to one possession at 35-34 at the half.

Mississippi State continued the momentum out of the half extending its offensive outburst to 20-2 run over 6:51 minutes of action between the first and second half. The spurt helped Mississippi State take a 46-37 lead with 6:38 left in the third quarter.

Park-Lane converted on a scooping and-one layup and knocked down the free throw to provide Mississippi State a 63-54 lead heading into the final period. The Bulldogs led 68-59 with 6:05 minutes left in regulation before their visitors ended the contest on a 19-0 run to secure the win.

Mississippi State outscored Kentucky 40-24 in points in the paint for its eighth game with 40-plus paint points in SEC action.

Mississippi State will be back in action on the road at Alabama on Sunday aired on SEC Network at 4 p.m.