In Greenville, South Carolina, Mississippi State achieved a significant triumph over Missouri at the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night. Spearheading this victory, Jerkaila Jordan netted 21 points while Destiney McPhaul recorded a career-high with 19 points. The Bulldogs, ranked 10th seed, accomplished a remarkable 31-0 run in the second half, which sealed the 75-55 victory against the 15th seed Missouri. This event marked coach Sam Purcell’s inaugural SEC Tournament win.
The win advances Mississippi State, now holding a record of 21-10, to face No. 7 seed Ole Miss in the subsequent round on Thursday. The Bulldogs will be seeking to avenge their previous 71-63 loss to Ole Miss, which occurred on January 19.
Missouri initially held a comfortable lead, heading 46-32 with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter. However, Mississippi State turned the tables dramatically. They surged ahead, securing their first lead since early in the game at 49-47 and finished the quarter spectacularly with a 20-0 run.
Destiney McPhaul’s vital contributions included a significant 3-pointer from near midcourt right at the third-quarter buzzer, which extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 56-47. She then continued her hot streak by making two more 3-pointers in the opening minutes of the final quarter. Jerkaila Jordan contributed a crucial jumper from the free-throw line, capping an impressive streak with the 30-0 run.
Missouri struggled offensively, missing 18 consecutive shots until Grace Slaughter found a bucket with just over four and a half minutes remaining. The Tigers also contended with 20 turnovers throughout the contest.
Mississippi State saw additional noteworthy performances from Madina Okot, who contributed 12 points and eight rebounds, and Eniya Russell, who added 10 points. McPhaul demonstrated efficiency, successfully hitting 4 of 5 attempts from beyond the arc before leaving the court toward the game’s conclusion.
On Missouri’s side, Ashton Judd was the leading scorer, contributing 15 points. Grace Slaughter, who entered the game with a team-leading average of 15.2 points per game, was limited to eight points, shooting 3-of-10 from the field.
In the early stages, Judd’s 15 points in the first half were instrumental in Missouri constructing a 39-32 lead by halftime. Meanwhile, Jordan was pivotal for Mississippi State, tallying 14 points during the same stretch.
As this season nears its end, Missouri’s coach, Robin Pingeton, previously recognized as the SEC Coach of the Year for the 2016-17 season, had announced her intention to step down after its conclusion on February 26.
