Bulldogs Post Solid Performance in 82-46 Win vs. UT Martin

Monday, November 11

Starkville

7:00 PM

Mississippi State

2-0,0-0SEC

UT Martin

0-2,0-0OVC

Team	1	2	3	4	F
UT Martin	7	13	13	13	46
Mississippi St.	19	22	20	21	82

Bulldogs Post Solid Performance in 82-46 Win vs. UT Martin

November 11, 2019 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Final Box (PDF)Postgame Quotes

By Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – No. 10 Mississippi State looked solid on both ends of the floor in the Bulldogs' 82-46 victory against UT Martin on Monday night at Humphrey Coliseum.

"First of all, I'm really pleased with our team," said head coach Vic Schaefer. "I thought we showed some growth tonight in some areas. We still got our work in progress in most areas, but I did see some improvement in certain areas."

With the game being on Veteran's Day, Mississippi State unveiled a permanent POW/MIA Chair of Honor inside Humphrey Coliseum to serve as a tribute to prisoners of war and service members who are missing in action, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

"I know my father, who's now deceased, was a veteran who loved his country," said Schaefer. "I grew up loving my country. We have so many veterans as part of this great university, and I know it was a great gesture on our part. It was an honor to be a part of the night, and I'm proud of our kids for the way they played."

Sophomore forward Jessika Carter finished with a career-high 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Freshman Aliyah Matharu scored in double-digits for the second game in a row, recording 15 points behind three 3-pointers. Junior Chloe Bibby rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points and seven boards.

MSU (2-0) never let the Skyhawks (0-2) get settled in on the offensive end. State held them to just 30-percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers that led to 29 points. For the game, the Bulldogs totaled eight blocks and six steals.

On offense, State was 57 percent from the field and assisted on 22 of its 30 shots. Three players knocked down multiple 3-pointers, as Mississippi State shot 57 percent from beyond the arc. All 12 players logged time in the game. Overall, Schaefer was able to get his reserves some solid playing time in the second half, as MSU's bench outscored UT Martin's bench 39-4.

The defense was locked in early on in the first quarter, holding UT Martin scoreless until 3:27 left and allowing the Skyhawks to shoot just 3-of-9 from the field for the period. During the stretch, State took a 10-0 lead. Carter led all players with eight points and four rebounds in the quarter to give MSU a 19-7 advantage early on.

The Bulldogs maintained their momentum through the second quarter to go up 41-20 at halftime. State shot 52 percent from the floor in the period and were able to convert seven offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points. On the defensive end of the court, MSU forced 14 turnovers to keep UT Martin from getting into a rhythm on offense.

Despite the Skyhawks trying to slow down the pace of the game, Mississippi State was still able to score 20 points in the third period. MSU shot 6-of-11 from the field to take a 61-33 lead into the final stanza.

The Bulldogs finished the game strong on both ends of the floor. On the offensive side, State shot 67 percent and knocked down seven of its final nine attempts. On the other end, MSU held UT Martin to just 19 percent. Matharu had the hot hand in the period, dropping eight points behind a pair of threes to help Mississippi State earn the 82-46 victory.

The Bulldogs continue their four-game home stand Friday night with a matchup against Murray State. The game will tip at 7 p.m. and will be broadcasted on SEC Network + and the MSU Radio Network.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK."