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No. 21 Mississippi State women suffer first loss of the season to Miami

IMG_4594by:Tanner Marlar•11/29/23•

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LPL

Despite only dressing out seven players, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team was able to hang on until the very end against a full Miami team in the SEC/ACC Challenge before eventually falling 74-68.

Similarly to the men’s squad, the 21st ranked Bulldogs came into the matchup with a perfect record (8-0), but the absence of the paint presences that are Erynn Barnum (injury), Jessika Carter (injury) and Nir Nir Montague (illness) loomed large in the final stages of action. Mississippi State was out rebounded 49-23 over the course of the game, but still clung to a narrow one-point lead at one time during the fourth quarter.

The Hurricanes found their stride late in the ballgame, though, and punished the Bulldogs for the lack of rim protection. Miami having 19 turnovers is eye popping in and of itself, but that coupled with the fact that Miami shot only 5-13 from the charity stripe should tell anyone why this one was so close.

Lauren Park-Lane led all scorers with 20 points while managing to lead Mississippi Sate in assists as well with 10. Nyayonga Gony led the team with 10 rebounds in an impressive 39 minutes of play. The former Miami transfer finished with seven points on 2-9 shooting.

After play had concluded, Mississippi State head coach Sam Purcell said that despite the loss, he was still proud of the effort his seven players showed.

“As crazy as it sounds, first and foremost, I’m a proud coach,” said Purcell. “I mean for us to have a week like we just did out in Houston with three straight games…and then to come home and find all kinds of obstacles that were going to be thrown at us…I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Lauren Park-Lane’s emergence

A few weeks ago, Lauren Park-Lane said in a press conference that she wanted “the old LP” to make a showing, and she put an exclamation on that point with another double-double on the night.

“Right now I feel like I’m back to my old self,” said Park-Lane. “I really wish we would have gotten that win tonight so I can really feel back to my old self, but you know, shout out to my teammates. Coach Purcell is always in my ear saying ‘be confident, stay confident in yourself.'”

The Seton Hall transfer came to Mississippi State as a near-member of the 2000 point club, and after her 20 point performance against Miami, is only six points away from that mark.

Injuries

Purcell had no updates on Barnum and Montague, but did mention that he was hopeful Jessika Carter would be able to return for the next game. Mississippi State will need her paint presence in their next matchup with UT Chattanooga on Dec. 3.

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