Mississippi State women’s basketball falls at Georgia

January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 Bob Bakken

Credit Mississippi State Athletics

Mississippi State women’s basketball falls to 15-7 overall and 4-5 in the conference after a 62-34 loss at Georgia on Sunday.

The Bulldogs struggled on offense in Athens, scoring 34 points, their fewest of the season, while shooting 27% from the field and 13% from the three-point line. Turnovers plagued Mississippi State as the Bulldogs committed 15 in the first half and 27 total to finish the game, the most turnovers State has committed this season.

Ahlana Smith led the offensive side of the ball for the Bulldogs, scoring nine points on the day. JerKaila Jordan continued to crash the boards as she grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists. Ramani Parker knocked down another three-point shot, her second consecutive game scoring a three-pointer, and she finished third on the team in scoring with five points.

Game Notes
• Nyayongah Gony scored her first points since Dec. 11 against Texas A&M Commerce.
• Georgia scored 24 points on State’s 27 turnovers.
• MSU recorded just eight assists on Sunday, snapping their streak of 18 straight games with at least 10+ assists.

Quoting Coach Sam Purcell
Opening Statement
“This was pretty simple; we didn’t play [well]. Anytime you turnover the ball 27 times, you just give too much to the opposing team on the road. The energy from the crowd got behind them, they were attacking us in transition and never felt like we could set our defense. All credit to Georgia, the style of play that they play, they take you out of your sets. This is a game that you’ve got to make plays, and you’ve got to be strong with the ball. Unfortunately, we weren’t strong with it, but here’s the best part, we have an off week this week, and our practices are going to be intense, and they are going to be turned up because, obviously, this is not acceptable. There is a room full of people in that locker room that know that, but talk is cheap, and we have to put in the work.”

Up Next
Mississippi State will be off next week before hosting Tennessee on Monday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m.