The Mississippi State University women’s basketball team kept its winning streak alive in a competitive matchup against the Texas A&M University Aggies at Humphrey Coliseum Sunday afternoon.  
A series of strong offensive and defensive plays gave MSU the upper hand early in the game. The Bulldogs had a good grip on the Aggies, as all their plays looked seamless and the Bulldogs were able to score with relative ease.
At the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs were up by nine after freshman guard Debreasha Powe hit a three-point jumper as the clock hit zero.
The Aggies looked to catch up on the score, as they slowly tried to close the gap before the end of the first. However, the score settled to 35-32 in the first half’s conclusion, with MSU maintaining the lead.
All eyes were on senior forward Jessika Carter and sophomore guard Anastasia Hayes, who both scored a team-high of 17 points each. Graduate guard Ahlana Smith also scored in the double-digits, finishing with 13 points in the game, while also tallying seven rebounds and four assists in the win.
Following the Bulldogs’ third-straight win, Hayes discussed the team’s performance down the stretch.
“The difference is I feel like we’ve just come together; we’re trusting each other more,” Hayes said. “We’re all bought in, and we all want to win.”
Ultimately, MSU’s defensive effort and ability to hit free throws consistently allowed the Bulldogs to find success against the Aggies at home.
Although it was a close contest, MSU held on, never trailing behind the Aggies.
After the win, MSU head coach Sam Purcell expressed that the struggles his team faced early in the season have only made them stronger.
“That’s the beauty of basketball. We’ve got to go through some hardships; we’ve got to have some good and bad times,” Purcell said. “And when you go through diversity, you grow stronger. And that’s what I see right now, you know, we’ve been there. We’ve been through these moments, and now, let’s just seize the opportunity to make the most of it.”
The win brings the Bulldogs up to an 18-7 record on the year and 7-5 in the SEC. Next, the team will travel to Columbia, Missouri, to take on the University of Missouri Tigers in hopes of getting one game closer to securing a spot in the NCAA Tournament.