Bulldogs Upset #7 Kentucky In Starkville

Sunday, January 18

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

15-5,2-4SEC

#7 Kentucky

17-3,4-2SEC

Kentucky

Mississippi St.

Bulldogs Upset #7 Kentucky In Starkville

January 18, 2026 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Will Simmons, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State earned the highest-ranked victory in the Sam Purcell era on Sunday, as the Bulldogs earned a double-digit victory over the seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, 71-59.

Sunday's matchup featured a back-and-forth contest. After Mississippi State jumped out to an early 10 point lead in the first quarter, the Wildcats would bounce back in the second, as they entered the locker room at the half with a three-point advantage.

The Wildcat lead would grow to as many as six in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs would hold a four-point advantage entering the final 10 minutes. After Kentucky narrowed the deficit to one point, the Bulldogs would go on a 13-0 run to gain their biggest lead of the contest with five minutes remaining, which ultimately helped them secure the victory.

Kharyssa Richardson led the Bulldogs with a career-high 23 points alongside seven rebounds. After entering the halftime locker room with seven points, Richardson would go 6-6 in the second half, including a make from distance, to push the Bulldogs to victory. It was just the third time in Richardson's four-year career that she had collected 20 or more points but was the second time in the last four games she had done such.

Trayanna Crisp was elite for the Bulldogs from beyond the arch, as she knocked down a season-high four three pointers on five attempts on her way to a 16-point performance. This was the second-best performance for Crisp and was her seventh game in double figures this season.

Favour Nwaedozi collected her ninth double-double on the season with 10 points and 21 rebounds. Nwaedozi has now collected 20 or more rebounds in two games this season, accounting for two of the three 20+ rebound performances across the Southeastern Conference.

Madison Francis stuffed the stat sheet for the Bulldogs, as she collected seven points, seven rebounds and six blocks. Francis leads the nation with games with six or more blocks, as tonight's contest was her fourth game doing such.

Chandler Prater added nine points to the Bulldog cause on an efficient 4-5 shooting, while adding a triple. She also led the team with three steals and collected four rebounds.

The Bulldogs will hit the road to take on the #21 Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa next Sunday, January 25. Tipoff for the contest is set for 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

QUOTING THE BULLDOGS
Crisp on hitting a transition three to push the lead to 10…
TC: "It just felt good in the moment and being able to be in the flow of my teammates. We know [Kharyssa Richardson} can get a bucket. We know everybody on team can get a bucket. When we flow in an offense and play our style of basketball, it gets dangerous, it just felt good to be able to share that with my team."

Richardson on the upset victory…
KR: It feels great. I've been waiting for an upset for a long time. We knew our time was coming, and we just had to be patient, and it came through tonight. Hopefully, we can get another one and keep on."

Nwaedozi on her 21 rebound performance…
FN: "Yeah, I got to guard [Clara] Strack, she's a really good player. She is pretty taller than I am, but it's always not about height. Box out, and once you get a good box out where you can get in a good position, the ball is yours. That's exactly what my coaches told me and that was what I did."

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