LUBBOCK, Tex. – Mississippi State women’s basketball suffered its first loss of the season on Thursday, failing to capitalize on a 31-point first quarter by scoring just 31 more points over the remaining three quarters in a 69-62 loss at Texas Tech.
The Bulldogs (4-1) jumped out to a 31-16 advantage after the first frame of action, capped by a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Trayanna Crisp, but managed just two more points in the first half. They managed to play strong defense, maintaining a 33-31 halftime advantage, but it came at a cost. Chandler Prater, Kharyssa Richardson and Madison Francis were all in foul trouble early on in the second half, and Francis fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Crisp, who scored 10 points in the opening quarter, managed just two more points the rest of the way as the Red Raiders’ defense tightened its grip on the game.
Tech saw breakout second-half performances from Jalynn Bristow, who led the way with 18 points, Bailey Maupin and Snudda Collins, who provided 17 each.
“Our scout team is phenomenal, but (Texas Tech) has something going with Snudda Collins,” Purcell said of the Red Raider guard. “Collins’ length forces turnovers in the traps. We tried to mimic that, but one time we had a deadball baseline where the kid makes a play on an inbounds, and she goes and lays it up. The traps, it’s never over. We worked on it for five days, but when you feel like you need a bucket, you get emotional, that’s when they smell blood.”
Purcell spoke highly of Tech’s pressing defensive play earlier in the week, and the smothering defensive effort proved his point.
The Bulldogs committed 22 turnovers, handing the hosts 17 points off of turnovers, and it paid off for Tech when their offense found life in the fourth quarter, finishing the game with a 26-17 quarter to seal the comeback win.
MSU will return to action in the Emerald Coast Classic against Alcorn State in Florida on Monday.
Posted in College Sports
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