Mississippi State
7-2
Memphis
2-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| MS | 53 | 39 | 92 |
| Memphis | 35 | 22 | 57 |
State Women Impressive In 92-57 Win At Memphis
December 02, 2007 | Women's Basketball
? Official Statistics
? Official Statistics (PDF)
MEMPHIS , Tenn. ? Mississippi State parlayed its best offensive half of the season into a 92-57 victory over homestanding Memphis in women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Lady Bulldogs scored a season-best 53 first-half points and did not trail in the final 32 minutes of the contest. The 92-point total was the highest output of the season offensively for MSU.
MSU (7-2) ran its modest win streak to three games. The Lady Bulldogs won on the road for a second time this season and also beat a Conference USA foe for the second time in four days. MState has now won three straight against Memphis in women's basketball play.
The Lady Bulldogs built on the strong all-around play displayed in Thursday's 77-56 win over C-USA member Southern Mississippi. MSU found its second gear midway through the first half erasing a strong start by the hosts.
Memphis (2-5) started the contest on fire, hitting six of its first eight shots from the floor. The Lady Tigers opened a 13-6 advantage before the M-State roared back to seize the momentum.
Bethany Washington gave MSU a spark off the bench, hitting a couple of baskets to spark a 9-0 run, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 15-13 advantage. Miayorka Johnson gave the Lady Bulldogs a 19-18 lead, scoring off an assist from Washington. MSU would not surrender the lead again.
Instead, the Lady Bulldogs found their offensive rhythm. MSU then closed the half on a 34-17 run. MSU opened up a 20-point lead on two different occasions, including a 50-30 push after Lauren Roberts converted a three-point basket.
In the opening half, the Lady Bulldogs converted 22-of-39 shots, a 56.4 percent pace from the floor. MSU was credited with 15 assists, while turning the ball over seven times. Imesia Jackson and Alexis Rack each had 11 points in the opening half.
With her first eight points, Jackson became the 21st MSU player under Coach Sharon Fanning to record 500 career points.
In the game's final half, MSU started out with the good run. The Lady Bulldogs scored the first nine points of the final half to take a 62-35 advantage. Memphis drew no closer than 23 points (74-51) the remainder of the way.
Rack paced the MSU offensive attack with 20 points, one point shy of a season high. Jackson added 17 points, while Marneshia Richards was also in double figures with 10 points. Tysheka Grimes had nine points and a team-high nine rebounds.
For the contest, MSU shot 44.6 percent from the floor, hitting on 37-of-83 attempts. MSU was 7-of-22 from three-point range, including four three-pointers by Rack. MSU was 11-of-18 from the foul line. The Lady Bulldogs had 23 assists and committed 16 turnovers. MSU also had a monster rebounding advantage, out-boarding the hosts 57-34.
Memphis was led by 12 points from Paris Leonard and 11 points from Aroha Jennings. The Lady Tigers shot 31.6 percent from the floor, hitting on 18 of 57 shot attempts. The Lady Tigers had 11 assists and made 22 turnovers.
MSU will now some much-needed time off. Final examinations begin Wednesday on campus. MSU returns to action Dec. 13 with a 7 p.m. start against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. The Lady Bulldogs return home to face Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. on Dec. 16.
