MSU Closes Out 2018 With Win Against Louisiana

Sunday, December 30

Starkville

2:00 PM

Mississippi State

12-1

104

Louisiana

2-9

Louisiana

Mississippi State

104

Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics

MSU Closes Out 2018 With Win Against Louisiana

December 30, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's No. 8/7 women's basketball team closed the 2018 portion of its schedule with a 104-36 win over Louisiana Sunday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs topped 100 points for the sixth time this season, breaking last year's school record for 100-point games along the way. MSU will carry a 12-1 record into the new year and open conference play at Arkansas.

Bre'Amber Scott led the way with a career-high 21 points, while going 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. She was followed by Anriel Howard (16 points), Teaira McCowan (13 points), Jordan Danberry (12 points) and Xaria Wiggins (10 points).

McCowan pulled down 11 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Wiggins recorded new career highs in both points and rebounds (six). McCowan finished with five blocked shots as the Bulldogs tied their season-high with 12 rejections on the day.

The Bulldogs scored 29 points off 26 forced turnovers by the Ragin' Cajuns.

"We knocked off the rust early in the game," MSU head coach Vic Schaefer said. "The first group scored the first 20 points, and that was a good sign, I like how we responded. We had several players come off the bench and make contributions. The next two months will be difficult, but we are ready to get started."

State opened the game on a 22-0 run, its best start of the year. The Ragin' Cajuns were held better than six minutes without a point.

The MSU starting five caught their first breather on the bench after reeling off 20 points. The Bulldogs matched their second-best quarter on the defensive end, allowing just six points. MSU led 29-6 at the end of the quarter. A 10-0 run in the second quarter extened the lead to 42-12 with 3:29 left in the half.

After heading to the locker room with a 50-16 halftime lead, Holmes pushed the lead to 43 at 64-21 with 5:47 left in the third quarter. A 10-0 run pushed the lead to 81-28 in the final minute of the quarter.

For the contest, the Bulldogs shot 50.7 percent from the field (37-of-73), and made 8-of-20 from 3-point range (40.0 percent). The Ragin' Cajuns were held to just 22.6 percent shooting.

MSU held a 58-32 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs forced 26 turnovers, and converted those into 29 points.

Louisiana (2-9) received nine points from Skyler Goodwin.

MSU will open Southeastern Conference play Thursday at Arkansas. The Bulldogs and Razorbacks will tip at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.