Arkansas center Shameka Christon garnered the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Award on Wednesday.
All-SEC Bulldog guard Tan White must not have heard the news.
White exploded for 17 first half points as the Lady Bulldogs (14-14) stormed to an 18-point halftime lead over the Lady Razorbacks (16-12) in the first round of the SEC Tournament Thursday.
“I just wanted to be patient and let the game come to me,” White said.
“Our defenders did a great job of pressuring their guards,” said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning.
Christon scored seven in 12 first half minutes, but her impact was limited by two personal fouls before the 13-minute mark.
“Our plan was to stop her,” White said.
Christon did not pick up another foul and played the entire second half. She finished the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds but six turnovers.
Post player Mamie McKinney finished the game one point shy of tying a career high set earlier this season in State’s upset of then-No. 20 Florida.
“They were trying to stop Tan and Tiania (Burns), so Mamie (McKinney) got some one-on-one coverage inside and made some baskets,” assistant coach Steve Curtis said.
Arkansas trimmed State’s lead to 11 with under 11 minutes remaining when White scooped up a loose ball, drove to the hoop and converted a three-point-play.
“I wouldn’t trade Tan for anyone,” Curtis said.
Seconds later White picked up her fourth personal foul.
MSU head coach Sharon Fanning had to sit White as Arkansas prepared for another run.
The Lady Razorbacks started heating up as the Lady Dawgs briefly struggled to score.
“We got complacent and didn’t attack, but we regained composure,” Fanning said.
Curtis praised contributions from other Lady Dawgs that help fend off the comeback.
“When Tan was out, Tiania (Burns) made a three and Seneca (Anderson) made a move in the lane,” Curtis recalled.
Arkansas scratched and clawed back into the game, trimming the lead to 73-71 with 2:03 to go.
Both teams went scoreless for the next minute.
After a 30-second timeout taken by Arkansas, Tiania Burns streaked free on an inbounds play and took it the distance for a lay-up.
Burns, a Nashville native, enjoyed her homecoming to Music City by playing string music all day.
The junior scored 21 points on 10-13 field goals and sank the only three she attempted.
On the next possession Arkansas missed a three and State took it the other way.
White found Doceide Warren for a lay-up and a 77-71 lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Arkansas pushed the ball and Christon sank a three with 28 seconds to go.
Warren drew a foul as she brought the ball up the court and calmly sank two free throws that iced the game.
Up next for the Lady Dawgs is a noon tip-off Friday with top-ranked Rocky Top.
Tennessee went through the SEC regular season game without dropping a game and the Lady Vols have never lost to Mississippi State in 22 games.
The last time the team’s met Tennessee held off a late surge by the Lady Dawgs for a 61-53 victory in Starkville on Jan. 11.
State knows it has a difficult task at hand.
“This is a great win, but we have to focus on tomorrow,” White said.
“We’ve played everybody and already have film,” Fanning said. “Right now you have to have the mindset.”