STARKVILLE — Mississippi State's women's basketball team faced another tough afternoon on Sunday as they fell to the No. 2 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks with a score of 95-68 at Humphrey Coliseum. After initially showing promise with an early lead, the Bulldogs succumbed to the Gamecocks' powerful comeback, marking their second consecutive loss by at least 22 points.
The game began on what seemed like the right track for Mississippi State (13-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference). Guided by fifth-year senior guard Jerkaila Jordan, the Bulldogs built up significant momentum, establishing their largest lead of the game at 11 points with solid play from teammates such as Madina Okot. Jordan's early precision and drive for the basket gave the Bulldogs optimism, especially as South Carolina was struggling with their shots, making just 3-for-13 from the floor initially.
But the tide turned dramatically. Head Coach Sam Purcell's squad couldn't maintain their composure, allowing South Carolina (14-1, 2-0 SEC) to capitalize on what they termed 'dagger turnovers.' Purcell reflected on the importance of clear ball handling, stating, "You can’t have seven turnovers in one quarter. We just had some dagger turnovers... The next thing you know, (two minutes) in the second quarter, they got the lead and that's where the momentum changed.”
South Carolina's head coach Dawn Staley also recognized the early struggles but applauded her team for their resolve. After losing key player Ashlyn Watkins to injury early on, the Gamecocks dug deep to bounce back. "Obviously we feel for Ashlyn and her injury... but her teammates have her back...,” stated Staley. Their response was impressive, outscoring Mississippi State 27-10 from the moment Watkins went down with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
Buoyed by Tessa Johnson off the bench, who tallied four consecutive 3-pointers during the second quarter, South Carolina seized control of the game. Johnson, who finished with 22 points, helped her team to transform the scoreline completely by making timely shots when Mississippi State’s opportunities faded.
For Mississippi State, the frustration was palpable. After leading 28-17, the Bulldogs saw South Carolina reverse the game with relentless defense and opportunistic offense. The Gamecocks ended the half with a 16-0 run, taking momentum completely away from the home team. They began to exploit the porous State defense, scoring 23 points off 20 turnovers forced by their aggressive play.
Jordan’s performance was the silver lining for Mississippi State, as she fought hard and finished the game with 24 points. Destiney McPhaul, who is showing promise, contributed another 14 points off the bench. Nevertheless, even with solid individual performances, the overarching theme was the inability to control the game’s flow.
"We have to take care of the ball. We can’t give these teams extra possessions because that's where we lose,” McPhaul admitted, highlighting the core issue plaguing the Bulldogs. With the continued trend of high turnovers—averaging 16.1 per game, the fifth-worst in the SEC—the Bulldogs must find solutions swiftly if they aim to improve their standing.
Following the game, coach Sam Purcell remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of grit and learning from losses. “Each one of my individual players has to have the mindset of improvement. Just focus on the next game. The most important game is the next one,” he urged, reflecting on the lessons to take from the challenging start to their SEC schedule.
Despite the loss, Mississippi State prepares to face another tough challenge with No. 9 Oklahoma visiting Starkville on Thursday night. A year ago, following similar early adversity, the Bulldogs strung together seven wins out of eight games after starting 0-2, drawing hope from past experiences. This upcoming matchup will be decisive for MSU's postseason aspirations and must serve as the catalyst for the remainder of their season.
“I really think it showed [in the first quarter]... you have the pieces,” Purcell reiterated about his belief in this year’s squad. Building off the manageable early success is key, but the Bulldogs must execute without the costly errors they’ve demonstrated to keep their competitive spirit alive as the season moves forward.