The Lady Bulldogs opened their season Sunday afternoon at the Hump with an exhibition game, grabbing an 86-66 victory over DT3, a team of former basketball players.State started off on top early in the game and continued to hold its lead until the end of the game.
The Lady Bulldogs were up by 36 points with 14:27 left in the second half, which became their largest lead in the game.
Senior forward Imesia Jackson scored 19 points and recorded nine rebounds.
Jackson scored 14 of her points in the second half.
“I played hard and had better opportunities the second half of the game,” Jackson said. “The points just came.”
Sophomore guard Alexis Rack followed up with a total of 15 points scored in the game with seven assists.
Junior guard Robin Porter scored 12 points during the game and had six rebounds and freshman forward Mary Kathryn Govero totaled 10 points.
At the end of the first half, the Lady Bulldogs had gone 6-of-12 in three-pointers, picked up a total of 22 rebounds, scored 43 points and had only eight turnovers to DT3’s 11 turnovers.
In the first half of the game, DT3 only hit 5 of 23 shots to compile a 21 percent shooting average, while the Lady Bulldogs sank 15 of 33 shots from the field, giving them a 45 percent shooting average.
The Lady Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the behind the arc and 71.4 percent from the charity stripe.
Victoria Crawford led DT3 with 23 points, the highest of any player from either team. She also scored 12-of-17 from the free throw line. DT3’s Tameka Kelly also totaled 16 points with eight rebounds.
“I felt like the game had an overall good balance,” 13-year head coach Sharon Fanning said. “We had better transitioning in the second half of the game.”
Coach Fanning said she was proud of the Lady Bulldogs’ performance, although she knows that there is still work to be done and certain techniques that must be practiced before the regular season begins.
“We must learn to maintain focus when we have such a good lead because it is very easy to let that focus go when you know you are doing very well,” Fanning said. “Another technique we must work on is how to reverse these free throws.”
Fanning also expressed concern for junior forward Lauren Roberts, who was unable to play due to injury.
“Another thing to keep in mind while this season begins is that one of our players, junior forward Lauren Roberts, is not able to play right now due to a mild concussion,” Fanning said. “I know that it is very irritating for her.”
Jackson said the Lady Bulldogs have high goals for this season, including a postseason run.
“We are aiming for higher goals this season, which is the NCAA tournament,” Jackson said.
Jackson said she also knows that with this being her senior year, it could be her last chance to achieve some of these goals.
“I have to step up as a senior,” Jackson said. “I look forward to every game I have left.”
The Lady Bulldogs will take Monday and Tuesday off to relax before officially starting the season and will continue with practice on Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Bulldogs will begin their 34th season of competition on Friday against the Southeastern Louisiana Lady Lions.
Tipoff between the Lady Bulldogs and the Lady Lions is set for 7 p.m. at the Humphrey Coliseum.