Thursday, the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs basketball team held off a strong run from the No. 20 Vanderbilt Lady Commodores to defeat them 66-61 at Humphrey Coliseum.
“We shot 82 percent from the free-throw line and that was huge. We played with great composure, and it was a great win over a very good basketball team,” MSU head coach Sharon Fanning said.
Mississippi State recorded two steals and six points off three layups by junior guard Armelie Lumanu in the first minute and led 33-26 at the half. In the second half, Vanderbilt fought back to take a one-point lead with 9:16 remaining, and the game remained tight until the end.
“I think that in the first five minutes you establish the tone of the game. That gives you confidence, and it helps you score a little more,” Fanning said.
Junior guard Alexis Rack led the scoring with 14 points and also added six assists and four rebounds. Rack’s free throw with 2:11 left in the game made her the 15th Lady Bulldog to score 1000 points in her career.
“I wanted to win. I really wasn’t thinking about 1,000 points,” Rack said. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I heard it when they announced it, but I was focused on the game.”
Senior forward Robin Porter scored 11 points for the Lady Bulldogs and Lumanu added 12.
“We played hard to win this game. The way we practiced the last couple of days showed us how to win the game. We played hard and did everything good, and that’s why we won the game,” Lumanu said.
Senior guard Christina Wirth led the Lady Commodores with 16 points, and junior guard Merideth Marsh scored 13 points. Senior guard Jennifer Risper led the team with eight rebounds.
“A team has to embrace certain things. When we embrace those things and work at them, we execute better,” Fanning said. “We do have to get better in half-court situations. There are little things we need to improve on, but I am so proud of the team’s focus and composure.
“Right now it is wide open in the league and we have to embrace the fact it is a battle every game,” Fanning said.
On Sunday, Rack’s 22 points led the Lady Bulldogs to a 66-55 victory over the LSU Lady Tigers to mark only the sixth time the Lady Bulldogs have ever beaten the Lady Tigers, and the first time they have ever won twice in the same season.
“It was a great team win today. We put ourselves in a good position both offensively and defensively,” Fanning said. “This is a huge win for us.”
Again, the Lady Bulldogs came out of the gate strong, going on a 16-2 run to start the game and led 27-13 at the half. The Lady Tigers finally pulled to within 10 points with 1:37 to go, but it was too late.
In addition to Rack’s 22 points, junior forward Chanel Mokango added 15 points and four blocks. Senior forward Robin Porter scored eight points and led the team with 11 rebounds. Lumanu had six points and a team-high 10 assists.
“[Lumanu] penetrates really well. Today, she did a great job of finishing that penetration,” Fanning said. “I think she is looking at when she can get to the rim, and she is setting up her teammates well. That is what a real point guard does. They set up their teammates, and she is beginning to understand that.”
The win puts Mississippi State in a three-way tie for fifth place in the SEC with Georgia and LSU.
“This was one of the most physical games we have been involved in. Their defense was outstanding and you have to give them credit for that. They were just better than us in every phase of the game,” LSU head coach Van Chancellor said.
The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action Thursday against the Ole Miss Lady Rebels. The game will begin at 7 p.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford.
Junior guard Bianca Thomas leads the Lady Rebels in scoring with 14.6 points per game. Senior guard Shawn Goff leads the team with 5.9 rebounds per game and averages 13 points. The Lady Bulldogs have already faced the Lady Rebels this season, winning 69-64 in Starkville on Jan. 11.