WBKB: Bulldogs beat South Carolina State to end non-conference play
Credit: MSU Athletics
By: William Simmons, MSU Communications Fellow
Dec.. 29, 2024-The Mississippi State Bulldogs picked up their fifth straight victory on Sunday, as they took down the Bulldogs of South Carolina State 95-47 on Sunday afternoon.
The Mississippi State offense was on fire, as they shot their best total of the season at 59 percent. Six Bulldogs finished the game in double figures, the first time that has happened this season. Madina Okot, Destiney McPhaul, Chandler Prater, Terren Ward, Eniya Russell and Jerkaila Jordan all finished the game with 10 or more points.
“First and foremost, it felt great to be back in the Hump,” head coach Sam Purcell said. “Eight games on the road allowed us to find out a lot about ourselves. I have to give a huge shoutout to my team, we had six score in double digits. That shows that anyone on this team can score.”
Okot was perfect from the field in the contest, as she finished with a team-high 16 points on a perfect 7- 7, with 10 of her total coming in the first quarter. On top of her scoring, she brought in six rebounds in the contest as well. Prater earned her second start of the year and picked up 14 points. She led the Bulldogs in rebounds as well, collecting eight in the contest.
McPhaul and Ward led State’s scoring off the bench. McPhaul finished with 14 points against South Carolina State, with 12 of her points coming from beyond the three-point line. Her four threes led the team and set a new career high. Ward finished with 12 points, two shy of tying her career high.
Russell and Jordan rounded out the double-digit scoring for the Bulldogs. Russell collected 11 points in the game while dishing out 6 assists. Jordan finished with 10 points, her tenth double-digit scoring performance of the season. Denim DeShields finished with eight points, two shy of double-digits, but dished out a team leading and season-high nine assists.
“I think we’re just being unselfish, those things are important,” DeShields said. “We were able to trust each other and it worked out. That will be important for SEC play.”
The Maroon and White were active on the defensive side of the ball as well, as they picked up a season-high 41 points off turnovers. They held South Carolina State to only two offensive rebounds, the lowest total of any opponent this season. Mississippi State also finished with a +17 rebounding margin.
The Bulldogs will be back in action when they open SEC play against the No. 16/15 Kentucky Wildcats. The contest will take place in Lexington, beginning at 6 p.m. Central.
