Hot-Handed Mississippi State Turns Back Mercer

Wednesday, November 20

Starkville, Miss.

7:30 p.m.

Mercer University

2-3,0-0SoCon

Mississippi State

5-0,0-0SEC

Mercer

Mississippi State

Hot-Handed Mississippi State Turns Back Mercer

11/20/2024 9:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Undefeated Mississippi State shot nearly 60 percent from the field, including a 10-for-22 clip from downtown, and posted a big disparity in the rebounding column on the way to an 81-44 victory over visiting Mercer on Wednesday evening in Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bears (2-3) forced 16 turnovers and were rock solid from the free throw line for the fifth time this season, but shot just 28 percent from the field on the night. The Bulldogs (5-0), who received a handful of votes for consideration in both major national polls this week, finished off a perfect season-opening home stand with the result.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Mississippi State 81, Mercer 44
RECORDS: Mercer 2-3 (0-0 SoCon); Mississippi State 5-0 (0-0 SEC)
LOCATION: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)

HOW IT HAPPENED

1ST QUARTER

Mississippi State displayed the hot shooting hand right out of the gates and posted a 60 percent field goal success rate on the way to outscoring the Bears 21-10 in the opening period. The hosts scored nine of the game's first 11 points to forge an early advantage, then closed out the quarter with five-straight points.

2ND QUARTER

The Bears tallied just a pair of buckets in the second quarter, and Mississippi State continued to display its perimeter prowess before taking a 38-18 lead into the halftime break. MSU strung together seven-straight points to eventually build its lead out to 21 points, 33-12, following Destiney Mcphaul's trey at the 6:35 mark.

3RD QUARTER

Mississippi State outscored Mercer 32-7 in the third stanza to more than double its lead. The Bulldogs connected on their first six field goal attempts in the period and shot 13-for-20 from the field, including a 4-for-5 showing from downtown, to eventually lug a 70-25 lead into the fourth period.

4TH QUARTER

Mercer's shooting touch came alive in the fourth period as the Bears shot 39 percent from the field to cut into their deficit. Hanna Knoll's triple with 1:46 left to play sparked the visitors on a 6-0 run that inevitably provided the final score.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

+ Redshirt sophomore Aspen Johnson turned in a team-best 14 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 clip from the charity stripe. Johnson also added four assists, three rebounds and a trio of steals.
+ Junior Ariana Bennett reached double figures in scoring for the second-straight game, this time pouring in 10 points on 4-for-6 field goal shooting. She finished with a pair of offensive boards as well.
+ Senior Nahawa Diarra added four points, but finished her evening with a team-best seven rebounds, all of which were of the defensive variety.

NOTABLES

+ Mercer has forced 14 or more turnovers in all five games this season. The Bears forced 16 turnovers by the Bulldogs on Wednesday, including nine in the first half.
+ The Bears have shot 74 percent or better from the free throw line in four of their five contests this season. Mercer shot a season-best 83.7 percent (13-for-15) from the line on Wednesday.
+ Mercer has now recorded at least one block for 33-straight games. The Orange & Black got lone blocks from both Aspen Johnson and Ashlee Locke against Mississippi State.

UP NEXT

Mercer will make a brief appearance at home on Friday when the Bears welcome Charleston Southern (1-4) to Macon for a 7 p.m. tilt inside Hawkins Arena. Tickets can be purchased by visiting MercerBears.com/Tickets.

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BACK THE BEARS

Fans can help support the Mercer athletics department by making a gift to the Mercer Athletic Foundation. To find out more information about the Mercer Athletic Foundation, email maf@mercer.edu.