Jessica Carter couldn’t have planned a better final game at Humphrey Coliseum. Scoring a season-high 20 points, including six three-pointers, Carter and the Lady Bulldogs came from behind to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime on Senior Day.
“What a way for a senior to finish up at home,” said Lady Bulldog coach Sharon Fanning.
The team’s final regular season game mirrored the Lady Bulldogs’ season, which ended with the team an even 7-7 in the SEC and 13-14 overall. After a slow start, the team fought back and finished strong in the end.
“We were able to defend down the stretch, rebound and stay focused,” Fanning said.
The Lady Dawgs trailed at the end of the first half, 44-40. Alabama shot a blistering 60 percent, including 78 percent from three-point range. The Tide’s Monique Bivins and Katie Sipe were both three out of four from behind the arc.
Carter’s three-point shooting and Tan White’s 11 points kept the Lady Bulldogs in the game, though.
“(Alabama) was playing the zone so they left me open,” Carter said.
The Dawgs kept the game close during the second half before finding their rhythm in a late run.
Powered by field goals from Carter and White and timely rebounding from Mamie McKinney, the Lady Bulldogs tied the game at 71 at the end of regulation. McKinney had 10 rebounds overall.
The Lady Dawgs came up with critical defensive stops in overtime. Tiania Burns hit a jumper and two free throws in the final 45 seconds to seal the victory. She finished with 16 points and two assists.
“Mississippi State did a real good job defensively,” said Tide coach Rick Moody. “They put a small lineup in and switched a lot of screens and took some looks away from us.”
The Tide dropped to 12-15 overall and 4-10 in the SEC.
White finished with 29 points, seven assists and eight rebounds.
“Tan White is Tan White,” Moody said. “There’s not a whole lot you can say. She’s a great player.”
The SEC Tournament in Nashville is the next stop for the eighth-seeded Lady Bulldogs. They play ninth-seeded Arkansas on Thursday at noon.
“This helps our confidence,” Carter said. “It would’ve been bad going in (to the tournament) with two losses in a row.”
Fanning estimated the team needs at least three victories in the tournament to garner an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
“Bottom line is today we need to enjoy this for about 15 minutes or so before we look ahead to Arkansas,” Fanning said.