Photo by: Hallie Walker/Mississippi State Athletics
McPhaul Making An Instant Impact
November 11, 2024 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE - There is a plethora of newcomers on this season's Mississippi State women's basketball team. One of the key additions in the offseason was the No. 1 ranked junior college guard in the country, Destiney McPhaul.
That lofty ranking has translated in her first two games in Maroon and White. She scored 11 points with four rebounds and three steals in the season-opening win over Memphis. She outdid her impressive debut performance in Sunday's victory over Alcorn State, totaling 15 points while being a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
"There is a reason she was the No. 1 junior college guard in the country," said head coach Sam Purcell. "The young lady is special. I'm glad to see all the hard work since she's gotten here paying off."
While she has excelled on the court through the opening two games, McPhaul credits her teammates for making the transition to Starkville seamless.
"I need to give a shoutout to my teammates," McPhaul said. "I wouldn't be able to do what I do without them. It starts in practice. They helped me get comfortable with the system. It really hasn't been hard. I'm just getting my feet wet."
McPhaul began her career at Temple, where she redshirted as a freshman. After making the decision to go to junior college, she was a dominant force in her two seasons at Northwest Florida State Junior College.
She averaged 13.2 points per game and led the team in points, assists and steals. She earned First Team All-American honors in 2024 while leading the Raiders to consecutive appearances in the NJCAA championship game.
McPhaul's scoring has been the story, but her defensive prowess has also been on display. She led the team against Memphis with three steals and was a key contributor to the Bulldogs' 29 points off turnovers versus Alcorn State.
According to her, "defense leads to everything."
"Coach Sam [Purcell] is a defensive coach," McPhaul said. "I think everything starts on the defensive end. We win championships by playing defense. We're able to get out in transition with our stops. Our defense gets us going."
McPhaul has proven her value in more ways than one during the Bulldogs' 2-0 start and her head coach is looking forward to more.
"That young lady has a special future here," Purcell said. "I'm glad we're coaching her."
That lofty ranking has translated in her first two games in Maroon and White. She scored 11 points with four rebounds and three steals in the season-opening win over Memphis. She outdid her impressive debut performance in Sunday's victory over Alcorn State, totaling 15 points while being a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.
"There is a reason she was the No. 1 junior college guard in the country," said head coach Sam Purcell. "The young lady is special. I'm glad to see all the hard work since she's gotten here paying off."
While she has excelled on the court through the opening two games, McPhaul credits her teammates for making the transition to Starkville seamless.
"I need to give a shoutout to my teammates," McPhaul said. "I wouldn't be able to do what I do without them. It starts in practice. They helped me get comfortable with the system. It really hasn't been hard. I'm just getting my feet wet."
McPhaul began her career at Temple, where she redshirted as a freshman. After making the decision to go to junior college, she was a dominant force in her two seasons at Northwest Florida State Junior College.
She averaged 13.2 points per game and led the team in points, assists and steals. She earned First Team All-American honors in 2024 while leading the Raiders to consecutive appearances in the NJCAA championship game.
McPhaul's scoring has been the story, but her defensive prowess has also been on display. She led the team against Memphis with three steals and was a key contributor to the Bulldogs' 29 points off turnovers versus Alcorn State.
According to her, "defense leads to everything."
"Coach Sam [Purcell] is a defensive coach," McPhaul said. "I think everything starts on the defensive end. We win championships by playing defense. We're able to get out in transition with our stops. Our defense gets us going."
McPhaul has proven her value in more ways than one during the Bulldogs' 2-0 start and her head coach is looking forward to more.
"That young lady has a special future here," Purcell said. "I'm glad we're coaching her."
Players Mentioned
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