Mississippi State, an unranked team, pulled off a stunning victory against No. 9 LSU with a final score of 77-73 in their Monday SEC women’s basketball clash. This defeat marked the Tigers’ second consecutive loss and their third in the last five games. Earlier, they suffered losses to Auburn on Jan. 14 and No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday.
ESPN reports that the last reigning national champion to experience back-to-back losses in the past decade was the 2017-18 Gamecocks team, which faced defeats against UConn and Mississippi State.
In this exciting matchup, JerKaila Jordan shone for the Bulldogs, contributing 24 points, five steals, four rebounds, and two assists. She stood out as the sole starter for the home team to score in double figures.
Notably, Darrione Rogers (19 points, 4-of-8 from three-point range, and three rebounds) and Mjracle Sheppard (12 points, six steals, five assists, and four rebounds) provided a crucial boost off the bench.
That feeling when you secure your first top-10 win since 2018 💪🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 IG / @HailStateWBK pic.twitter.com/H07cL4xhuJ
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 30, 2024
Despite Mississippi State’s strong defensive performance and forcing 21 LSU turnovers, they struggled to contain Angel Reese. The LSU star displayed an impressive performance with 20 points, 18 rebounds, five steals, and two assists.
However, the efforts fell short, especially with Hailey Van Lith struggling and managing only four points on 1-of-6 shooting.
In the fourth quarter, the Tigers faced a deficit of up to nine points, but a late run narrowed the gap to three in the final two minutes, raising hopes of a comeback. However, Rogers played a pivotal role by hitting a crucial three-pointer to extend the lead to six and later sealing the victory with a free throw in the closing seconds.
The dagger. 😮💨@SamPurcellMSU’s reaction. 😂@HailStateWBK x @espnW pic.twitter.com/uvXAITdXRH
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) January 30, 2024
With this win, Mississippi State’s overall record improved to 17-5, with a 4-3 standing in the SEC, while LSU’s season record dropped to 18-4, with a 5-3 conference play standing.
Both teams are currently trailing behind the undefeated South Carolina, which boasts a perfect 19-0 record for the season and a 7-0 standing in the SEC.
