The University of Tennessee (15-7) hung tight with Mississippi State University (21-1) for most of Sunday afternoon’s women’s basketball matchup; but once the floodgates opened, the Bulldogs seemingly could not miss, culminating in a dominant 91-63 win over the Volunteers.
Post-game, head coach Vic Schaefer praised his team and the atmosphere of the arena.
“This is a complete team win,” Schaefer said. ”I am really appreciative of the crowd. It’s a great atmosphere, and these kids deserve it.”
The two SEC opponents traded baskets for the better part of the first quarter, with little defense and plenty of scoring. It took five minutes for MSU to gain the lead they would carry with them for the rest of the ballgame.
Still, things remained fairly close for the majority of the ballgame. A three point buzzer beater from the Volunteers brought them back within six points right before halftime, a defensive mistake Schaefer said was one of few his team made.
“We had three hiccups. Three. And all three of them resulted in three-pointers for the other team,” Schaefer said. “I just thought our team was really locked in and focused today.”
MSU got a steal off of the opening throw, and quickly turned it into a layup from Jordan Danberry, a senior from Conway, Arkansas, but Tennessee remained competitive.
“I just love her (Danberry) attack mode right now, she was really locked in today,” Schaefer said.
Early in the second half, the Bulldogs struggled to match the physicality of their opponents, allowing Tennessee to go on a run and bring the score back within three points. Those struggles were quickly overcome, as Teaira McCowan, a senior forward from Brenham, Texas, picked up some big free-throw points, along with a couple of layups from Danberry. The team effort pushed MSU back into a commanding lead.
“We always pick up the slack for each other,” Danberry said.
Eventually, the Bulldogs would explode offensively toward the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. Danberry and Jazzmun Holmes were practically unstoppable, getting the rim over and over again.
The late game effort was a result of their conditioning, according to Schaefer.
“We’re in really good shape, we had great physical conditioning,” Schaefer said. “I don’t like to be out-hustled, I don’t like to be out-toughed.”
McCowan was as dominant as ever for the Bulldogs, finishing the day with 24 points and 15 rebounds. Danberry was another major offensive factor for her team, with 20 points and 4 assists.
McCowan said rest was also an important factor late in the game, as the Bulldogs had the entire week off from games leading up to the matchup.
“It was good, getting us refreshed, and getting our legs back under us. Rest is always important,” McCowan said.
The dominating win was not only a huge momentum booster, but the Bulldogs also handed a historic Tennessee program its largest SEC loss in program history. MSU will be back in action against Missouri at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hump.