A Sundae Treat For A Monday Victory
February 08, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Bulldogs found fun on and off the court with big win over Tennessee.
STARKVILLE – When asked how she felt after Mississippi State's double-overtime victory over Tennessee on Monday, JerKaila Jordan had a quick response.
"I'm just really proud… but we're going to get three scoops of ice cream," Jordan said.
Head coach Sam Purcell had a different idea.
"Four scoops tonight with the game you had," Purcell said.
A few scoops of ice cream each would be a solid reward for the Bulldogs, who pulled off the 91-90 victory over the Lady Volunteers behind a massive effort from everyone in Maroon and White who stepped on the court. After a hard-fought battle that featured plenty of adversity, the sound of the final buzzer electrifying the crowd at Humphrey Coliseum was the cherry on top in a game that was won thanks to harmony and positivity.
"My teammates had confidence," guard Anastasia Hayes said. "Everybody had confidence. We were all in it together, we were one, we never put our heads down and we told each other we fought too hard to lose the game."
Head coach Sam Purcell saw the effects that a tough couple of games on the road were having on his players in the practices leading up to Monday night's daunting matchup. In an effort to bring the spark back to the Bulldogs, he took a step back and encouraged his team to find enjoyment in the game through their closeness.
"They believe in each other, they love each other, but I told them, 'We've got to start having fun,'" Purcell said. "[I told them], 'We're putting too much weight on our shoulders. Relax.'"
The Bulldogs did just that. In a game that lasted nearly three hours from start to finish, Mississippi State worked like a well-oiled machine that never ran out of steam. Jordan scored a season-high 24 points in the victory, while Hayes added 14 points and led the team with eight rebounds and four steals. Graduate transfer Asianae Johnson contributed 16 points for the Bulldogs. Six other players recorded at least four points each, and every shot mattered greatly in the tight game.
"We just had each other's back," Hayes said. "You know, my teammates have my back and I can feel the positive energy, and the energy means a lot."
The players weren't the only ones feeding off of each other throughout the game. Purcell's unwavering support did not go unnoticed. Neither did the love that the ladies gave back to their well-respected coach when things began to heat up.
"He stayed positive and we all stayed positive, and we had his back," Hayes said.
Mississippi State has a challenging SEC schedule remaining, but for just a moment on Monday night, there was time for celebration. Jordan had already decided on her ice cream order, but Hayes wasn't going to let her on-court sidekick outdo her.
"I'm getting seven [scoops] then," Hayes said.
