Smiles filled Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday as first-year Mississippi State women’s coach Vic Schaefer’s squad got its first SEC victory against rival Ole Miss 72-57.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 9-11(1-6). Sophomore Martha Alwal had a solid performance against the visiting Rebels, shooting 10 for 13 for 23 points and racking up 12 rebounds. Schaefer praised the play of Alwal and fellow post player Carnecia Williams and said the two blocked and altered many shots.
“She (Alwal) had five blocks, and there’s no telling how many she altered. Carnecia (Williams) had some really big rebounds in the second half. Our inside game — when they go 14 for 20 – we aren’t going to be in here unhappy very many times,” Schaefer said. “I felt like we decided for a change we were going to be the aggressor and take the fight to them.”
The Lady Bulldogs’ joy was turned to concentration soon after the celebration was over as they looked ahead to a tough battle against No. 7 Tennessee, which is ranked No. 1 in the SEC (16-3, 7-0). First-year head coach Holly Warlick leads the Vols in place of renowned coach Pat Summitt.
Junior guard Katia May, who finished with 15 points and six assists against Ole Miss, complimented the Vols and said she has high hopes for the rest of the season.
“I think we’re going to build from what happened today (Sunday). The intensity we brought and the mindset we had helped us,” May said. “We need to be a go-getting team.”
The post players for the Dogs have proven to be the catalysts on this team, in particular Alwal who has recorded an SEC-best 10 double-doubles on the season. But other post players such as Williams, who averages five boards per game to go along with 8.3 points, have also made their presence felt inside.
Sophomore Kendra Grant has quietly put together another highlight year. She leads the team, averaging 12.6 points per game and as she showed against Ole Miss, is almost unstoppable when she gets into a rhythm. 
For the Bulldogs to record their first-ever victory in Thompson-Boling Arena and first-ever victory against Tennessee, for that matter, they must stop Bashaara Graves and Meighan Simmons. Graves is arguably the top newcomer in the SEC, garnering four Freshman of the Week honors already. Simmons is scoring 17.6 points per game, third best among active players, and the team’s leading offensive performer.
The Lady Bulldogs have taken their lumps against conference competition (going 1-6 this month against SEC opponents), but Schaefer praised the team’s determination. If the Bulldogs play with the intensity and determination they’ve showed against the “monster five” (Kentucky, Texas A&M, Florida, LSU and South Carolina) as Schaeffer coined it, then Thursday could be an upset waiting to happen.