One Game At A Time
March 16, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Bulldogs move on in the big dance.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – It's not easy to reach the NCAA Tournament, let alone win a game in March Madness.
Mississippi State did just that in dominant fashion on Wednesday night, taking down Illinois by a score of 70-56 to advance in this year's postseason tournament. The Bulldogs put together an impressive run in the second half to pull away easily, advancing to the Round of 64 and giving themselves a chance to continue achieving their goals. It was a rewarding night for head coach Sam Purcell, who shared his excitement following the contest.
"It was just a beautiful performance from my young women that they just didn't want to lose," Purcell said. "It was awesome to see."
Most teams and their fans focus on the end product: a shot at a Final Four appearance and some shiny new hardware for the eventual national champions. MSU wants those things, but the Bulldogs are taking it slow and steady.
"They're determined for big things and big goals, and our mindset right now is one game at a time," Purcell said.
The Bulldogs have pushed themselves over the last few weeks, and that was evident by their success across the court. Graduate student Anastasia Hayes, who scored 11 points and dished out five assists against the Fighting Illini, explained that the team prepared more than ever after hearing its name called on Selection Sunday.
"When we [saw] our name on TV, we went back and we worked really, really hard," Hayes said. "That's all we did the past two weeks: worked hard, worked on our execution and just worked on just having fun."
The victory brought plenty of excitement and joy on its own, but it meant a bit extra to Purcell. He picked up his first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as a head coach and further cemented himself as the winningest first-year head coach in program history. Ultimately, Purcell gave all of the credit to his initial group of Bulldogs.
"I'm blessed with a group who believes in me," Purcell said. "They trusted me. They've got my back. And then you'll see in the locker room videos, they also dance with me. I love it."
Purcell also added that fellow Southeastern Conference coaches were rallying behind him and his team, especially since they were competing in the opening game of March Madness. A simple text thread from some rivals on the court ultimately spoke wonders about how well-loved the sport is in the conference.
"For them to text me, being a first-year head coach, and wish me good luck and wanting us to set that tone, again, I couldn't be happier to be in the best conference in women's basketball," Purcell said.
A first victory is a big deal for Mississippi State, but the battle is just beginning. Every game that passes will be against tougher competition, and each player who sports the Maroon and White will play an important role in helping the Bulldogs fight through a tough bracket of competition. It's the ultimate chance to demonstrate teamwork and togetherness, and Purcell said that his student-athletes have embodied that through their closeness.
"For teams to get to this point, it's more than just an individual, it's a team," Purcell said. "So that's what [is helping us] is the special bond that we've got going on."
Mississippi State will face Creighton in the next round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night. The game will be hard-fought, but the Bulldogs are ready for their moment on the sport's biggest stage. After all, they have exactly what they need to shock the world.
"We believe in each other, and when it comes to March, that's the only thing that matters," Purcell said.
