McPhaul's Clutch Free Throws Lift Mississippi State Over Belmont, 73-70
December 14, 2024 | Women's Basketball
TUPELO, Miss. – Redshirt junior guard Destiney McPhaul was fouled with 0.2 seconds left in regulation and proceeded to knock down three free throws to lift Mississippi State to a 73-70 win over Belmont inside Cadence Bank Arena on Saturday.Â
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"I talked about it all week. This game was about more than just basketball," Head Coach Sam Purcell said. "It was an opportunity for our team to make a statement. For this fan base to go out of their way and then for us to play hard for them for four quarters. Thank you."
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"I have a team full of dogs. They're just relentless and they find a way. I want to give a major shout out to Belmont. There's a lot of people who won't play Belmont. They don't want that match up. Bart (Brooks) is as good of a coach as anybody in the country. We have nothing but major respect for them. For us to find a way, this is a huge, huge win."
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"It was a big moment for me, but I feel like any player on this team could've stepped up and knocked down those free throws." added McPhaul.Â
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With the win, Mississippi State improves to 10-1 on the season and 12-1 in non-conference neutral-site games under Purcell.Â
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McPhaul finished with 13 of the 15 bench points for Mississippi State, in addition to two rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes. Her point total came on 4-4 shooting from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line.Â
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Graduate student guard Jerkaila Jordan turned in her fourth-consecutive game with 20 or more points, in addition to her third double-double of the season and 13th of her career on a career-high 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. Junior center Madina Okot added her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points on 5-5 from the field and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.Â
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Jordan got the scoring started for Mississippi State with a three from the left wing on the second possession of the game. The middle portion of the first quarter featured suffocating defense on both ends with Belmont securing a 5-3 lead at the media timeout. Belmont knocked down four threes in the frame to command a 19-9 lead at the end of first quarter.Â
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Mississippi State opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run over the first 2:03 minutes of action to cut the deficit to 19-16. Belmont responded with answers of its own to push the margin back to 29-24 at the end of the first half.Â
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Mississippi State forced eight of Belmont's 12 turnovers in the first half.Â
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The margin remained within two possessions with Belmont still ahead 38-32 at the third-quarter media timeout. The Bruins pushed their lead to 49-41 entering the fourth quarter.Â
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Mississippi State went on an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter that forced a Belmont timeout and tied the game at 49-49. Each side scored on its next possession out of the timeout to lock the score at 51 with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter.Â
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Mississippi State took its first lead of the second half at 53-51 on a backdoor cut and finish from Jordan. Jordan added another finish inside the paint to secure Mississippi State its largest lead of the game at 61-54 with 2:38 left in regulation.
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Belmont tied the score at 70 on a driving finish with three second left regulation before the late game heroics from McPhaul.Â
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Mississippi State will be back in action on a quick turnaround when it travels to Monroe, La. to battle ULM inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.
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"I talked about it all week. This game was about more than just basketball," Head Coach Sam Purcell said. "It was an opportunity for our team to make a statement. For this fan base to go out of their way and then for us to play hard for them for four quarters. Thank you."
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"I have a team full of dogs. They're just relentless and they find a way. I want to give a major shout out to Belmont. There's a lot of people who won't play Belmont. They don't want that match up. Bart (Brooks) is as good of a coach as anybody in the country. We have nothing but major respect for them. For us to find a way, this is a huge, huge win."
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"It was a big moment for me, but I feel like any player on this team could've stepped up and knocked down those free throws." added McPhaul.Â
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With the win, Mississippi State improves to 10-1 on the season and 12-1 in non-conference neutral-site games under Purcell.Â
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McPhaul finished with 13 of the 15 bench points for Mississippi State, in addition to two rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes. Her point total came on 4-4 shooting from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line.Â
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Graduate student guard Jerkaila Jordan turned in her fourth-consecutive game with 20 or more points, in addition to her third double-double of the season and 13th of her career on a career-high 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. Junior center Madina Okot added her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points on 5-5 from the field and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.Â
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Jordan got the scoring started for Mississippi State with a three from the left wing on the second possession of the game. The middle portion of the first quarter featured suffocating defense on both ends with Belmont securing a 5-3 lead at the media timeout. Belmont knocked down four threes in the frame to command a 19-9 lead at the end of first quarter.Â
Â
Mississippi State opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run over the first 2:03 minutes of action to cut the deficit to 19-16. Belmont responded with answers of its own to push the margin back to 29-24 at the end of the first half.Â
Â
Mississippi State forced eight of Belmont's 12 turnovers in the first half.Â
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The margin remained within two possessions with Belmont still ahead 38-32 at the third-quarter media timeout. The Bruins pushed their lead to 49-41 entering the fourth quarter.Â
Â
Mississippi State went on an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter that forced a Belmont timeout and tied the game at 49-49. Each side scored on its next possession out of the timeout to lock the score at 51 with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter.Â
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Mississippi State took its first lead of the second half at 53-51 on a backdoor cut and finish from Jordan. Jordan added another finish inside the paint to secure Mississippi State its largest lead of the game at 61-54 with 2:38 left in regulation.
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Belmont tied the score at 70 on a driving finish with three second left regulation before the late game heroics from McPhaul.Â
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Mississippi State will be back in action on a quick turnaround when it travels to Monroe, La. to battle ULM inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.
Team Stats
BEL
MS
FG%
.393
.460
3FG%
.310
.158
FT%
.810
.571
RB
26
47
TO
12
19
STL
8
1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, June 17
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Tuesday, March 25