Mississippi State set for tough matchup in Nashville against Vanderbilt
Though Mississippi State remains in the projections for the NCAA Tournament, the Bulldogs need wins down the stretch to make it there.
The women’s basketball team has a marquee win over the Oklahoma Sooners, but has missed some other opportunities along the way. Thursday night is another chance for a big win for the resume as the Bulldogs head to Nashville to play the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Vandy (18-6, 5-5 SEC) was just recently inside the top 25 after winning four-straight games against Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Florida. Last week was a setback for the Commodores as they dropped double digit losses to Ole Miss and Texas.
The two losses aren’t to fool anyone that the Dores aren’t still a major obstacle for State. Coach Shea Ralph has made the team respectable again and it’s a tough environment for a team to win. It’s no different than any other night to coach Sam Purcell.
“It’s one game at a time. We’re playing in the SEC – it’s the toughest conference in the country. We’ve had some great performances where you’re right there,” Purcell said. “When you play in this league, you’ve got to bring it for four quarters. We’ve Vanderbilt who is playing as well as anybody in the country so let’s see if we can bounce back.”
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Vandy enters the game with one of the SEC’s best offenses as the Dores average 84.5 points per game. Even with the loss of star Sacha Washington for the year, dominant players have emerged and no one has been better than Mikayla Blakes.
The freshman phenom is averaging an incredible 22.1 points per game this year with three 30-point games in SEC play against Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Her Florida performance was an all-timer as Blakes threw in an incredible 53 points on 16-of-24 shooting.
Sophomore Khamil Pierre has also been a force with her 21.2 points and 10.0 rebounds a game this year. Senior Iyana Moore averages 13.5 points per contest and is just one 3-pointer out from the lead with 52 to Blakes’ 53.
State and the Dores will tip it off on Thursday night on SEC Network at 8 p.m.
