No. 4 Bulldogs Roll To 100-67 Exhibition Win Against UAFS

Friday, November 3

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

100

Arkansas-Fort Smith (Exh.)

No. 4 Bulldogs Roll To 100-67 Exhibition Win Against UAFS

November 03, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Official Stats (PDF)Photo Gallery

STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 4 Mississippi State knocked down 15 3-pointers and Teaira McCowan snagged a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Bulldogs rolled past Arkansas-Fort Smith 100-67 in exhibition play Friday night at Humphrey Coliseum.

The junior McCowan hit 9 of 15 shots from the field, and 10 of her 12 boards came on the offensive glass. When the Brenham, Texas, native wasn't scoring in the post, the Mississippi State guards were on fire from beyond the arc, hitting 15 of 32 3-pointers for 46.9 percent.

Senior Blair Schaefer tallied six triples for 18 points on the night, while classmate Roshunda Johnson hit 5 of her 7 field goals from behind the stripe for 19 points.

Fellow senior Victoria Vivians scored 13 points.

"It was nice to get out and play in front of our fans tonight," sixth-year head coach Vic Schaefer said. "I really thought Fort-Smith fought and hung in there and never quit, which is a credit to them and Coach (Elena) Lovato.

"This team showed tonight when kids are sharing the ball and finding somebody that's gotten hot, they're fun to watch and can make some shots in a hurry. My three senior guards (Vivians, Johnson and Schaefer) had 50 of our 100 points. I thought Ro shot it really well. Obviously, we had a hard time with them in some different areas and that gives us some great film to teach with. Again, it was good to get out and play on our home court and play in front of our fans tonight."

The Bulldogs opened the game with the first eight points on a 3-point play by McCowan, a triple by Schaefer and a layup by Johnson.

State finished up the opening quarter 30-11 behind a 16-2 run. McCowan contributed six points in the stretch while Vivians, Schaefer and Johnson each knocked down 3-pointers.

Schaefer and Vivians sparked MSU to a 56-28 halftime lead as they added six points each in the second quarter.

The duo each knocked down a 3-pointer to open the quarter. A triple by Johnson pushed the Bulldog lead to 28 at 43-15 with 6:01 to play in the quarter. McCowan then hit a jumper to give MSU its largest lead of the first half at 33 with 4:11 to play.

UAFS took advantage of six Bulldog turnovers early in the second half to go on a 10-0 run that cut the State advantage to 62-39 with 5:09 left to play.

State out-scored the Lady Lions 17-5 the final 3:59 of the third to put MSU up 82-44. McCowan added seven points in the stretch and Vivians contributed a pair of buckets.

MSU made 44.8 percent (39 of 87) from the field, including its 46.9 percent tally from 3-point range. Arkansas-Fort Smith, coached by former State assistant Elena Lovato, made 26 of 53 from the field for 49.1 percent and 5 of 16 from 3-point range for 31.3 percent.

State out-rebounded the Lady Lions 47-36 and forced UAFS into 26 turnovers, taking a 42-9 edge in points off turnovers.

Ellie Lehne led Arkansas-Fort Smith with 19 points while Micayla Haynes tallied 14. Tayla Taylor collected 10 rebounds.

Mississippi State officially raises the curtain on 2017-18 on Nov. 10 as it hosts Virginia at 8 p.m. in the second half of a doubleheader with the Bulldog men's team. Between games, a special Final Four banner-raising ceremony will be held to commemorate MSU's historic run to the national championship game.

Advance tickets purchased in sections 204-208 cost $10 each. All other sections cost $20 each. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS.