Bulldogs Fall In Second Round Of SEC Tournament

Thursday, March 2

Greenville, S.C.

1:30 PM

Mississippi State

20-10,9-7SEC

Texas A&M

9-19,2-14SEC

Texas A&M

Mississippi St.

Bulldogs Fall In Second Round Of SEC Tournament

March 02, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Kelly Shipp, Assistant Director/Communications

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Mississippi State fell to Texas A&M 79-72 in the second round of the SEC tournament on Thursday. The loss moves their record to 20-10 on the year, and they will have to wait until March 12 to find out their postseason fate.

Mississippi State came out strong in the first quarter, scoring 25 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to take a 25-19 lead into the second. The lead was short-lived, however, as State struggled in the second quarter shooting just 9% (1-for-11) from the field and scoring just five points. The Bulldogs made a run late with a solid fourth quarter shooting 44% (7-for-16) from the field but ultimately fell short in their bid to advance to the SEC Quarterfinals.

Jessika Carter had a solid day despite playing just 20 minutes because of foul trouble. She scored 18 points and had five rebounds, the most points she has scored in an SEC tournament game. She scored 10 of her 18 points in the first quarter.

JerKaila Jordan had an offensive day putting up 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Jordan had a strong second half scoring nine of her 12 points. Powe finished right beside Jordan with 12 points and seven rebounds. Powe's 12 points were her first double-digit game since Jan. 5 at Tennessee, where she put up 21 points. Anastasia Hayes continued to find her teammates as she dished out five assists on the day.

Game Notes
• Carter scored 10 points in the first half while playing just nine minutes. She had three first-half fouls.
• State outrebounded the Aggies 39-29
• Bulldogs knocked down 22 free throws, shooting 81% from the free throw line, while Texas A&M shot just 47% from the line, knocking down eight free throws
• Texas A&M shot 64% from three (11-for-17) and 52% from the field (30-for-58)
• There were a combined 44 fouls called in the game

Quoting Coach Sam Purcell
Opening Statement
"When you look back on their year [Texas A&M], they didn't have Janiah Baker, but they stuck together. We knew coming into this game that it was going to be an absolute battle for four quarters. I love the start from my team, we're up 25-19, but that second quarter was the game. We did some things that were uncharacteristic from us. We took too many quick shots, we quit talking in ball screens, and ultimately they punched us in the face. In the end, we fought like no other, but it just wasn't enough. We'll take this. I still believe we are an NCAA tournament team. I talked to my team earlier; I was in this situation last year as an assistant at Louisville, we got upset in the first game against Miami. You know what, instead of just saying, why us and having all this bad anger and whatever we got back in the gym. We came together and learned from those moments, and we made a run to the final four. This is a team and I know that there's hurting, we all are, but again we're gonna give credit to Texas A&M, we'll get back in the gym and wait for our fate on Selection Sunday."

On NCAA bubble
"That's a life lesson. That's why I tell my young women never take a day for granted. It's an opportunity, and that's the mindset we've had all year, every day is an opportunity, let's make the most of it. Today's one that hurts. It hurts, but at the same time, I think we have to look back at the course of the other opportunities we have and we ceased it. We had some serious games where we had injuries, but we fought. We had people out, and we found a way to win. We'll learn from this, but again this one hurts a little bit."

Up Next
The winner of the Mississippi State will have to wait for Selection Sunday to know their postseason fate. The women's NCAA Tournament Selection Show will air live on ESPN at 7 p.m. CT.

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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