In The Associated Press women’s basketball poll for last week, Mississippi State (12-3, 1-1) and Vanderbilt (10-3, 0-1) split the No. 14 ranking. On Sunday the teams faced off in the Humphrey Coliseum and proved how evenly matched the squads appear.
With one second left on the clock Sunday afternoon, MSU’s Tan White pulled down her 10th rebound, and that marked the first time either team felt in control. Only 12 seconds before, MSU All-American LaToya Thomas nailed two free throws to give the Bulldogs the three-point final advantage of 78-75.
“We wanted the ball in LaToya’s hands in a situation like that,” MSU head coach Sharon Fanning said after the game. “She is a senior and knows how to deal with pressure. She also got us this far.”
Thomas showed her dominance the entire game. Scoring 12 of her 28 points in the first half, Thomas led MSU into halftime tied with the Commodores at 40. Thomas hit 10 of 17 shots during the game and added eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs also held Vandy’s All-American Chantelle Anderson in check the entire game. Anderson finished the game with 12 points and fouled out with 4:26 left in the game.
“Rebecca Kates did a great job for us defending Anderson,” Fanning said. “We asked Rebecca to do a lot and to hold her in check, and she never let Anderson get in a groove. When she (Anderson) went to the bench, I knew we had an advantage.”
During the game the score was tied 13 times and the lead changed hands 17 times. Mississippi State shot 44 percent for the contest, while the Lady Commodores shot an even 50 percent. The games advantage came down to rebounding, 41-31 in favor of the Bulldogs, and MSU made seven more free throws.
“We found a way to win a ballgame tonight,” Fanning said. “I think our girls really showed their character today. We really battled and won on the boards, and we made our free throws.”
The Bulldogs finished the game with three players in double figures. White added 19 points to finish with a double-double and Doceide Warren chipped in 13 points.
Vandy also placed three players in double figures. Jenni Benningfield led the Commodores with 20 to go along with 15 rebounds, Anderson was held to 12 points and Ashley McElhiney helped out with 17 points and dished out 10 assists.
The Bulldogs will have this week off before traveling to Oxford Sunday to take on the University of Mississippi at Tad-Smith Coliseum. MSU will return home Jan. 23 to take on the Auburn Lady Tigers at The Hump. Game time for the Dawgs and Tigers is set for 7 p.m.
Bulldog Milestones
* With her 28 points on Sunday, LaToya Thomas became the first Bulldog (male or female) to eclipse 2,500 points in their career. Thomas has scored 2,521 points in her career at MSU.
* With her 12th victory of the 2002-03 season, MSU head coach Sharon Fanning notched her 450th career victory.