Mississippi State
4-0,0-0SEC
Bethune-Cookman
1-4,0-0SWAC
Bulldogs Close Out Home Stand With Strong Performance Against Bethune-Cookman
November 22, 2021 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball took down Bethune-Cookman 94-53 with four Bulldogs scoring in double-figures Monday night. The victory moves MSU's record to 4-0 as the Bulldogs close out the first portion of its home schedule before heading to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday.
JerKaila Jordan led all scorers for the second-consecutive game with her 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting. It was Jordan's second-straight game reaching the 20-point mark. Rickea Jackson had a great all-around game with her first double-double of the season, 17-points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Joining Jordan and Jackson with stellar nights were Anastasia Hayes (14 points and seven rebounds and five assists), Denae Carter (13 points) and Aislynn Hayes (11 points). This was the first game of Aislynn's Bulldog career reaching double-digit points.
"[We] had really good energy, and we talked a little about the difference between having a great day and making it a great day," interim head coach Doug Novak said. "Having a great practice, or making it a great practice, and it's our choice on how we want to pursue it. It doesn't just happen. Maybe you get 20 good days out of the year where everything is right, and the other ones, you have to compete to make them right. I think each day in practice, we do a better job at that. We have control over those things - our attitude, our energy, how we're talking to each other. I was impressed with our enthusiasm and our ability to lift others up."
For the second-straight game, one strong MSU quarter decided the outcome of the game. Against Alcorn State, MSU used a 35-7 third quarter to take control, but on Monday night against Bethune-Cookman, it was a dominant second frame that proved to be the difference.
After taking a seven-point lead into the second quarter, 21-14, State outscored BCU by 18-points in the second while allowing just six total points to be scored, the lowest quarter points allowed of the season. In that dominating frame, MSU scored the first seven points and the final 13 points. State shot 52% and Jordan scored eight of her 20. Raven Farley was key to winning the rebounding battle as she recorded six of her career-high 13 rebounds in the second quarter.
Mississippi State came out of the locker room and kept their foot on the gas. Anastasia Hayes and Aislynn Hayes each added six points in the third to help State outscored BCU 24-12 in the third and ultimately walk away with the 94-53 victory.
Caterrion Thompson had seven of the teams 35 bench points on Monday, while Charlotte Kohl and Myah Taylor each added four points of their own. Taylor continued to impressive passing this season with seven more assists.
State's 41-point victory is the team's largest margin of victory this season. MSU posted another night of season-high in rebounds with 50 as well as a season-best field goal percentage of 48.1%.
Up Next
Mississippi State will spend the Thanksgiving holiday in Daytona Beach, Fla., where they will compete in the Daytona Beach Invitational. State will take on the Dayton Flyers (3-1) on Thursday at 11 a.m. CT before taking on No. 13 Michigan (5-0) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. CT. Both games will be streamed online via FloSports.com. To watch the event, fans will have to pay for a subscription. Fans can also follow along via live stats or on the MSU Radio Network.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK.
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