TUPELO, Miss. – Redshirt junior guard Destiney McPhaul was fouled with 0.2 seconds left in regulation and proceeded to knock down three free throws to lift Mississippi State to a 73-70 win over Belmont inside Cadence Bank Arena on Saturday. “I talked about it all week. This game was about more than just basketball,” Head Coach Sam […]
TUPELO, Miss. – Redshirt junior guard Destiney McPhaul was fouled with 0.2 seconds left in regulation and proceeded to knock down three free throws to lift Mississippi State to a 73-70 win over Belmont inside Cadence Bank Arena on Saturday.
“I talked about it all week. This game was about more than just basketball,” Head Coach Sam Purcell said. “It was an opportunity for our team to make a statement. For this fan base to go out of their way and then for us to play hard for them for four quarters. Thank you.”
“I have a team full of dogs. They’re just relentless and they find a way. I want to give a major shout out to Belmont. There’s a lot of people who won’t play Belmont. They don’t want that match up. Bart (Brooks) is as good of a coach as anybody in the country. We have nothing but major respect for them. For us to find a way, this is a huge, huge win.”
“It was a big moment for me, but I feel like any player on this team could’ve stepped up and knocked down those free throws.” added McPhaul.
With the win, Mississippi State improves to 10-1 on the season and 12-1 in non-conference neutral-site games under Purcell.
McPhaul finished with 13 of the 15 bench points for Mississippi State, in addition to two rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes. Her point total came on 4-4 shooting from the field and 5-6 from the free-throw line.
Graduate student guard Jerkaila Jordan turned in her fourth-consecutive game with 20 or more points, in addition to her third double-double of the season and 13th of her career on a career-high 15 rebounds in 33 minutes. Junior center Madina Okot added her fourth double-double of the season with 11 points on 5-5 from the field and 15 rebounds in 28 minutes.
Jordan got the scoring started for Mississippi State with a three from the left wing on the second possession of the game. The middle portion of the first quarter featured suffocating defense on both ends with Belmont securing a 5-3 lead at the media timeout. Belmont knocked down four threes in the frame to command a 19-9 lead at the end of first quarter.
Mississippi State opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run over the first 2:03 minutes of action to cut the deficit to 19-16. Belmont responded with answers of its own to push the margin back to 29-24 at the end of the first half.
Mississippi State forced eight of Belmont’s 12 turnovers in the first half.
The margin remained within two possessions with Belmont still ahead 38-32 at the third-quarter media timeout. The Bruins pushed their lead to 49-41 entering the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State went on an 8-0 run to open the fourth quarter that forced a Belmont timeout and tied the game at 49-49. Each side scored on its next possession out of the timeout to lock the score at 51 with 6:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Mississippi State took its first lead of the second half at 53-51 on a backdoor cut and finish from Jordan. Jordan added another finish inside the paint to secure Mississippi State its largest lead of the game at 61-54 with 2:38 left in regulation.
Belmont tied the score at 70 on a driving finish with three second left regulation before the late game heroics from McPhaul.
Mississippi State will be back in action on a quick turnaround when it travels to Monroe, La. to battle ULM inside Fant-Ewing Coliseum on Tuesday at 5 p.m. CT.
