Greenville, SC—-In the 18th all-time meeting between Mississippi State and Missouri, the Tigers entered the SEC tournament’s first round matchup with the second-best three-point shooting percentage in the conference. Despite this, the Bulldogs pulled off an impressive 75-55 victory, showcasing an explosive second half that propelled them past Missouri and into the tournament’s quarterfinals.
The win marks Mississippi State’s first SEC tournament victory under head coach Sam Purcell in just his third season.
The game got off to a rocky start for Mississippi State, as Missouri took control early, forcing the Bulldogs into two turnovers right out of the gate. However, Mississippi State quickly recovered and began to find their rhythm.
Junior Ashton Judd made an immediate impact, knocking down three of her first four shots, including a three-pointer. The first quarter ended with Missouri leading by just two points, 20-18, as both teams shot 33.3% from beyond the arc and took an equal number of shots.
In the second quarter, both teams continued to battle back and forth, with Missouri’s size advantage not enough to establish a significant lead. Mississippi State’s defense stood strong, especially in limiting Missouri’s three-point attempts, while forcing a few crucial turnovers.
Despite the Bulldogs’ defensive push, Missouri held onto a 39-32 lead as the teams headed into the halftime break.
The third quarter marked a turning point in the game. Missouri came out of the locker room with an early burst of offense, which prompted a quick timeout from Mississippi State’s coach Purcell. At that moment, the Tigers were shooting 47% from the field, while the Bulldogs were struggling at 39%.
However, Mississippi State would go on to mount an incredible comeback, closing what was once a 10-point deficit. With 3:03 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs trimmed Missouri’s lead to just one point. By the end of the period, Mississippi State had completed a 20-0 run, capped off by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Destiney McPhaul. The Bulldogs entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 56-47 lead.
The final quarter belonged to Mississippi State, as they continued to dominate both offensively and defensively. The Bulldogs shot an impressive 65.4% from the field, including 71.4% from three-point range.
McPhaul, who had already been hot from beyond the arc, went 4-for-5 in the second half, with all four of her three-pointers coming in the fourth quarter. Jerkaila Jordan, who had an exceptional performance all game long, added 21 points, while McPhaul finished with a career-high 19 points. The Bulldogs’ second-half surge, fueled by a 31-0 run, was too much for the Tigers to handle.
Despite McPhaul suffering what appeared to be a lower-leg injury in the fourth quarter, Mississippi State’s momentum was unstoppable. Missouri struggled to find an answer, and the Bulldogs sealed the game with a dominant second-half performance, winning 75-55.
This victory marks an important milestone for Coach Sam Purcell, as Mississippi State advances past the first round of the SEC tournament for the first time under his leadership. With the win, the Bulldogs continue their tournament run and look ahead to the next challenge.
