Jerkaila Jordan injects energy into Bulldogs to close regular season with 90-75 win over Missouri
Mississippi State just hasn’t been the same without Jerkaila Jordan at her best.
In the midst of a five-game losing streak, Jordan was averaging 12.2 points but made just 37% of her shots. Her night at Auburn on Thursday was rock bottom as she made just 4-of-17 shots.
On Senior Day Sunday against Missouri, Jordan was not going to go out on a sour note.
Jordan scored an incredible 18 points in the third quarter and injected energy into a Bulldog team that has been missing it. State went from a five-point deficit to a 12-point lead and would keep the NCAA Tournament hopes alive with a 90-75 victory.
“Man did we need that,” coach Sam Purcell said. “For everything that’s been happening, these kids have never quit. There’s been fight in them all year. Are we happy how the month has ended? No, but tonight is a chance to show everyone that we’re not done.”
After missing most of the first half with foul trouble and shooting just once, Jordan came back in and scored 18 in the 10-minute frame with 8-of-9 shooting. The senior guard finished the game with 22 points (all in the second half) and was 9-of-12 from the field.
Jordan also helped get things going on the defensive end for a struggling Bulldog unit. She finished with three steals to allow State to build momentum.
“I was warm. I didn’t really touch the court so at halftime coach Sam looked at me and said, ‘you better not be tired,’” Jordan said. “I probably had the most energy so just going out there and using that to my advantage, I had extra endurance.”
Darrione Rogers was big off the bench for State. The senior DePaul transfer had 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting and was 6-of-8 from three with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Lauren Park-Lane played her last game at Humphrey Coliseum and had 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting while dishing out nine assists and pulling down three rebounds. Her 194 assists this year are now eight away from the single-season record of 202 set by Jazzmun Holmes.
“I was just focusing on winning, honestly. All the extra stuff was just a bonus,” Park-Lane said of her game on Senior Night. “We really needed this win desperately and that’s all our mindset was (Sunday).”
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Park-Lane, Rogers, Jordan, Jessika Carter and Erynn Barnum were honored pregame as the seniors on the team with Jordan the only player that has an extra year of eligibility remaining. With the option to return for another year, Jordan said postgame that she hadn’t decided yet on her decision and was focused on postseason play with her team.
After MSU surrendered 25 points in the first quarter against the Tigers, defense did improve for the Bulldogs. MSU outscored the Tigers in each of the next three quarters giving up 15 points each in the second and third.
State (21-9, 8-8 SEC) shot 55% in the game with 11-of-20 makes from 3-point range. The Bulldogs forced 15 turnovers and converted those into 20 points and outrebounded the Tigers 32-27.
UP NEXT
The win has the Bulldogs still on the right side of the tournament bubble, but they might need another one in the SEC Tournament to solidify their entrance. It’s a familiar face on the other side for the Bulldogs as they will be playing Texas A&M for the second-straight season.
The 8/9 matchup between the Bulldogs and Aggies will be at 11 a.m. CT in Greenville, S.C. next Thursday. State will try to avenge an early exit last year to the Aggies.
“I’m praying the committee looks at the eye test. I easily thought we could have been undefeated in non-conference,” Purcell said of his team’s resume. “It is what it is. If we can get a bunch of wins, that will be a nice punch. If we don’t hopefully they look at the eye test.”
