
Bulldogs Fall Just Short Of #5 Vanderbilt
January 15, 2026 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – A late surge from Mississippi State left the Bulldogs just short of a come from behind win, as they fell to the undefeated fifth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores, 89-84.
The Bulldogs excelled at getting points in the paint, outscoring the Commodores 42-32 in that category. Thursday's game was just the first time in 15 games that the Bulldogs outscored their opponents in the paint and lost.
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures in Thursday's contest. Madison Francis led the Bulldogs in scoring for the sixth time this season. She scored 15 points on 60 percent shooting and led the Bulldogs with eight rebounds. This marked the third-straight game Francis scored in double figures.
Favour Nwaedozi battled foul trouble throughout the contest and only played in 20 minutes but finished with 14 points and six rebounds on 7-10 shooting. Nwaedozi also collected six rebounds before fouling out.
Saniyah King collected a season-high 13 points in 23 minutes against the Commodores. King, a sophomore from Washington, D.C., finished in double figures for just the first time this season. Kharyssa Richardson also finished with 13 points, marking the sixth time she has finished in double figures, with four of those performances coming in conference play. Chandler Prater rounded out the Bulldog five with 10 points and a pair of steals.
Trayanna Crisp facilitated the Bulldog offense, as she tied her career high of seven assists, which was set earlier this season against Alabama State. She also led the team with three steals and knocked down a pair of triples in an eight-point performance.
The gauntlet of January continues for the Bulldogs, as they will face their fifth-consecutive top 20 opponent when they welcome the seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats to Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday, January 18. Tipoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m. on SECN+.
Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
The Bulldogs excelled at getting points in the paint, outscoring the Commodores 42-32 in that category. Thursday's game was just the first time in 15 games that the Bulldogs outscored their opponents in the paint and lost.
Five Bulldogs scored in double figures in Thursday's contest. Madison Francis led the Bulldogs in scoring for the sixth time this season. She scored 15 points on 60 percent shooting and led the Bulldogs with eight rebounds. This marked the third-straight game Francis scored in double figures.
Favour Nwaedozi battled foul trouble throughout the contest and only played in 20 minutes but finished with 14 points and six rebounds on 7-10 shooting. Nwaedozi also collected six rebounds before fouling out.
Saniyah King collected a season-high 13 points in 23 minutes against the Commodores. King, a sophomore from Washington, D.C., finished in double figures for just the first time this season. Kharyssa Richardson also finished with 13 points, marking the sixth time she has finished in double figures, with four of those performances coming in conference play. Chandler Prater rounded out the Bulldog five with 10 points and a pair of steals.
Trayanna Crisp facilitated the Bulldog offense, as she tied her career high of seven assists, which was set earlier this season against Alabama State. She also led the team with three steals and knocked down a pair of triples in an eight-point performance.
The gauntlet of January continues for the Bulldogs, as they will face their fifth-consecutive top 20 opponent when they welcome the seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats to Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday, January 18. Tipoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m. on SECN+.
Visit HailState.com for the latest news and information on women's basketball. Fans can also follow the program on social media by searching 'HailStateWBK' on X, Facebook and Instagram.
Team Stats
VU
MS
FG%
.500
.485
3FG%
.379
.381
FT%
.900
.857
RB
33
33
TO
13
12
STL
4
10
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell, Saniyah King vs Vanderbilt - 1/15/26
Thursday, January 15
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell Media Session - 1/13/26
Tuesday, January 13
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell, Kharyssa Richardson vs Tennessee - 1/8/26
Thursday, January 08
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL | Sam Purcell Media Session - 1/6/26
Tuesday, January 06










