Jordan Notches 1,000 Career Points As State Goes Perfect In Tampa

Wednesday, December 21

Tampa, Fla.

12:00 PM

Mississippi State

New Mexico

Jordan Notches 1,000 Career Points As State Goes Perfect In Tampa

December 21, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score

By: Kelly Shipp, Assistant Director/Communications

TAMPA, Fla. – Leading by just five at halftime, Mississippi State women's basketball used a huge second half to earn a dominant 87-58 victory over New Mexico in the final game of the Sun Coast Challenge. The win improves MSU's record to 11-2 on the year entering SEC play.

JerKaila Jordan recorded her 1,000th career point with a jump shot at the top of the key against New Mexico. Jordan had a solid day all-around with 17 points, four rebounds, two steals, and three assists. She went 7-for-15 from the field and 2-4 from the three-point line. Jordan became the second Bulldog this season to reach a significant milestone, joining Anastasia Hayes, who scored her 2,000th career point earlier this season.

Mississippi State closed its non-conference schedule with an 87-58 victory over New Mexico in the Sun Coast Challenge, finishing the tournament 2-0. The Bulldogs outrebounded New Mexico 53-36 and outscored the Lobos 48-14 in the paint. This was just the second game for MSU that they have eclipsed 50+ rebounds. State had four players scoring in double-figures, Jessika Carter (29), JerKaila Jordan (17), Anastasia Hayes and Ahlana Smith (11).

Jessika Carter had a day to remember with a season-high 29 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Carter recorded her 24th career double-double and her first 20-point game of the season, the ninth of her career. Carter led the team in shooting at 77% (14-18) from the field.

Turning Point
The Bulldogs ended the second quarter on a 6-0 run shifting the momentum State's way going into halftime. Coming out of halftime State shot 50% from the field in the third quarter and 61% in the fourth, improving from 38.9% in the first and 43.8% in the second.

Game Notes:
• New Mexico made 12 triples to MSU's seven
• Bulldogs shot 60% (3-5)from the three-point line in the second quarter
• JerKaila Jordan and Jessika Carter leading the team with eight points a piece at the half
• Bulldogs ended the third quarter on a 13-2 run
• This was MSU's fourth straight game shooting above 45% from the floor
• Despite 16 lead changes, MSU held the lead for over 29 minutes

Quoting Coach Purcell:
On adjustments to take control of the game
"Well I think it starts with my strength coach. I've got the best strength coach in the country. We didn't make many adjustments, we stayed the course, we kept the hunger, we got after it and I just thought our conditioning level took over and we were able to just get unbelievable rebounds and sprint ahead of transition baskets that just gave us a great lead and we were able to maintain it."

Quoting Jerkaila Jordan:
On scoring 1,000 career points
"It was just unbelievable and it's such a big accomplishment for me and I'm proud of myself. I've been working so hard this year and I'm just grateful that I was able to score my 1,000^th career point as Bulldog."

Up Next
Mississippi State will enter SEC play on Dec. 29th at 5 p.m. CT when the Bulldogs travel to Nashville to take on Vanderbilt.

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.

– HailState.com –