Following Mississippi State University’s dominant win over Arkansas, junior guard-forward Debreasha Powe continues to prove why she is the heartbeat of the team.
The Bulldogs rolled past the Razorbacks 78-55 on Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum, bouncing back in emphatic fashion after last Sunday’s 81-67 loss at LSU.
Mississippi State overwhelmed Arkansas from the start, fueled by Powe’s hot shooting. She drained five 3-pointers in the first half and finished with a season-high 16 points.
Powe’s impact went beyond the box score as she constantly communicated with teammates and provided a steady presence on both ends of the floor. She credited her success to their support.
“They believe in me,” Powe said. “They were finding me in transition and just telling me to knock it down.”
Graduate guard Jerkaila Jordan echoed that sentiment, praising Powe for her leadership and positivity. Jordan matched Powe’s 16 points while adding 10 rebounds and five steals, marking her fourth double-double of the season.
“Debreasha is like the mother of the team,” Jordan said. “She has been since her freshman year. This is just a role that she takes on 100 percent. If somebody is going to pick us up, it’s going to be Debreasha. You never see her with a bad attitude or a frown on her face. She’s always smiling, and she’s just somebody you enjoy being around on and off the court. I love Debreasha. This is my last year with her, and I appreciate every moment I have with her.”
Graduate guard-forward Chandler Prater, making her second consecutive start, added 14 points, her highest total this season, while shooting 2-for-4 from beyond the arc.
Prater credited Powe’s work ethic as an inspiration.
“Debreasha works hard before and after every practice,” Prater said. “The support from my teammates and coaches has meant everything, and I just want to bring the same energy to them.”
Powe, who accumulated college credits while at Meridian High School, is on track to graduate early and plans to pursue her master’s degree.
Head coach Sam Purcell praised Powe’s leadership both on and off the court.
“She’s a dream girl — someone I would want my daughters to be like,” Purcell said. “She leads our Bible studies, and she prays for us before games. It’s just awesome.”
Purcell said the team looks up to Powe, and her presence resonates far beyond Starkville.
“Anytime she talks, they listen because they respect her,” Purcell said. “There are a lot of little girls out there playing basketball today who look up to Powe. She gives so many kids hope to stay at Mississippi State.”
Mississippi State will play next at Vanderbilt at 6 p.m. on Thursday and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
