Homecoming At The Hump
January 20, 2023 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Three names synonymous with establishing Mississippi State women's basketball as a national brand were back inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday night.
Former Bulldog players Ketara Chapel and Savannah Carter along with longtime MSU assistant coach Johnnie Harris made their return as part of Harris' coaching staff at Auburn. Chapel currently serves as an assistant coach while Carter works as the Tigers' director of player development and video coordinator.
"It was the weirdest and bitter-sweetest moment ever," Carter said. "I felt like I was coming back home and was excited even though I was on the opposite side and cheering for Auburn. Coming off the court, I felt like I was slapping my teammates hands."
Chapel and Carter were both members of Vic Schaefer's initial signing class at State in 2013. During their tenure, they helped transition the program into a perennial contender and started a string of six consecutive trips to the postseason – two of which were appearances in the national championship game.
Carter started 35 games during her two seasons in Starkville after transferring in from junior college and led Mississippi State in steals and 3-point percentage during her junior year in 2013-14. Chapel logged 142 games over her four-year career, posting 111 wins and was a key piece of the program's first appearance in the national championship game.
"When we first came in (Wednesday) night, the first thing I did when I came in was look at our 2017 national finalist banner," Chapel said. "(Thursday night's) game was like I'd never left. The crowd, the student section and everybody was nothing short of amazing."
Nearly eight years removed from her final game and five years since her last visit to the Hump, Carter found out firsthand just how loyal Mississippi State's fanbase can be. Midway through the second quarter of Thursday's game, she was summoned up to the camera well to assist one of Auburn's video staff members with a problem but was unable to make it.
"As I'm going up the steps, people were stopping me and I couldn't even get to him," Carter said. "I couldn't even do what I usually do at halftime because I was up talking to people that I haven't seen in years."
Chapel was also welcomed back with open arms by the Bulldog faithful as she walked to the Auburn bench during pregame.
"I saw a lot of our boosters and fans," Chapel said. "I had a whole section calling my name. I was really excited to see them."
Chapel began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs for two years and served as the coordinator of player development at Texas for the 2020-21 season. She is in her second year as an assistant coach on Harris' staff at Auburn.
But when the game started on Thursday, Chapel's focus was solely on finding a way to win against her alma mater.
"I have to go for who is paying me so when the ball was tipped, I was all Auburn Tigers," Chapel said. "But I'm never going to forget this building and these fans and all that we did to build this when we got here. Mississippi State shaped me not only as a basketball player but as a person. You meet a lot of people around here that are willing to help you and will put a lot of time into you. This place will always hold a special place in my heart for sure."
The Maroon and White faithful also gave Harris, who was the Bulldogs' associate head coach from 2012-20, a roaring ovation when her name was announced during introductions prior to Thursday's contest.
"It was awesome coming back," Harris said. "I loved coaching at this place. I love this place. It's family and has been family for a long time. I felt like I was coming back to family. Even though we're competing against each other, I always wish Mississippi State the best."
