Mississippi State Women’s Basketball Falls to Kentucky 78-68.

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Mississippi State Bulldogs are looking to get back on track after back-to-back losses. MSU had positioned them well, but the Bulldog's cushion is gone after two losses.

MSU won the previous matchup between these teams earlier this month 77-74. Debresha Powe was the hero for State as she made a trio of clutch threes.

What: Mississippi State Bulldogs (20-7, 7-5 SEC) versus Kentucky Wildcats (10-16, 3-9 SEC)

Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Mississippi

TV: SEC Network+

When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Central

How To Watch: Mississippi State Women's Basketball Versus Kentucky

Here is how it happened

The Mississippi State Bulldogs dropped their third consecutive game to another team they beat earlier this season in Kentucky. This game fluctuated by the quarter as the Bulldogs won the second and the third quarters but were dominated in the fourth quarter.

Jessika Carter performed well, scoring 20 points and racking up 20 rebounds. However, her performance was not enough to overcome 17 turnovers by MSU. The Bulldogs were riding a central high a couple of weeks ago during their five-game winning streak, but the SEC is relentless.

The Wildcats ended the game on a 19-0 run; it is nearly impossible for a team to win with that drastic collapse. MSU will be back in action Sunday against Alabama at 4 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

Kentucky Starting Five

Cassidy Rowe

Ajae Petty

Amiya Jenkins

Maddie Scherr

Emma King

Mississippi State Starting Five

Lauren-Park Lane

Jerkaila Jordan

Debreasha Powe

Erynn Barnum

Jessika Carter

4th Quarter

8:00 Both teams traded turnovers on their opening possessions of the quarter. Bulldogs need to put this team away now because the Wildcats are streaky. Powe hits her third three-pointer, but UK responds. MSU leads 66-58.

5:25 MSU is playing solid defense, but the Wildcats are just a bit better on offense. Carter is up to 20 points, and UK has no answer for the Georgia native. Mississippi State leads 68-61.

5:06 Purcell will take a timeout the Bulldogs are playing well on offense, but credit to the Wildcats for not giving up.

3:18 This game feels very similar to the one on Feb. 1st. Sloppy basketball is being played by both teams right now. MSU has now committed three straight turnovers. MSU leads 68-67.

3:07 Kentucky takes the lead on a three-pointer, and Purcell will take a timeout. MSU trails 70-68.

2:06 MSU failed to put away the Wildcats in the third quarter, and now UK has all the momentum. The crowd has gone silent in MSU as the Bulldogs continue to make careless turnovers. MSU trails 74-68.

1:00 Kentucky gets an offensive board and puts it back, and that may be the dagger. MSU trails 78-68 as fans start heading for the exits.

0:00 Yet another disappointing loss for MSU, who is now on a three-game losing streak and dropped to 7-6 in SEC play. MSU falls to Kentucky 78-68.

3rd Quarter

8:12 Bulldogs are playing much better against the Kentucky backcuts. Barnum is up to ten points. MSU is getting some good looks on offense. MSU leads 39-35.

7:35 MSU has grabbed the momentum, and Kentucky will take a timeout to quiet this crowd.

4:44 Mississippi State is dominating the third quarter. Jordan hits a three and joins Barnum, Park-Lane, and Carter as double-digit scorers. MSU is outscoring the Wildcats 14-7 this quarter. MSU leads 48-42.

2:13 Kentucky withstood a 20-0 Bulldog run, and they are hanging around. Carter is even scarier when she knocks down mid-range shots. Powe hits her second three; she had a big game in their matchup with the UK. MSU leads 55-50.

0:00 A really good quarter for the Bulldogs as they outscored the Wildcats 29-19, but Kentucky continues to play hard. Carter has taken over this half in the paint as she is up to 18 points and 16 rebounds. Mississippi State 63-54 leads going into the final quarter.

2nd Quarter

7:07 Kentucky is controlling the pace of this game, as they like to run. MSU not getting good looks at all on offense. Kentucky 29, MSU 22.

4:49 Kentucky is zooming up the floor and getting easy looks at the rim. They continue to hit open looks while the Bulldogs continue to force shots on offense. Not a good start for MSU, and they trail 33-24.

2:57 Wildcats continue to play with great effort as they draw a charge to take away an MSU bucket. Bulldogs break the press easy, and Carter finishes on the reverse layup. The Wildcats are getting every loose ball, and it continues to lead to points. The Bulldogs look tired. MSU trails 35-28.

1:44 The crowd explodes after a Park-Lane layup. The Bulldogs are now making run of their own. MSU trails 35-33.

0:00 Not a great star for the Bulldogs, but they do finish the half strong. It has been a team effort for MSU as the Bulldogs have four players with at least seven points: Jessika Carter (10), Erynn Barnum (8), Jerkaila Jordan (7), and Lauren Park-Lane (8). If the Bulldogs can sharpen up on defense, they can run away with this, but the Wildcats continue to push the pace. MSU trails 35-34.

1st Quarter

10:00 MSU wins the tip, and we are underway.

8:30 Barnum with a quick four points. MSU leads 4-2.

5:22: A lot of offense early here at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs are working it inside, and the Cats are shooting from deep. MSU leads 14-7. Barnum has eight points.

4:22 The Bulldogs are dominating this game inside with Carter and Barnum. MSU's defense needs to tighten up a bit, but the Bulldogs lead 16-11.

1:49 Sheppard makes an impressive feed to Carter, who scores. Jordan hits the first MSU three. The MSU is not allowing the Bulldogs to pull away. The Wildcats are hitting shots and getting to the rim with ease.

0:00 A strong start offensively for MSU in the first quarter. However, the defensive struggles for the Bulldogs continue. Kentucky is 5-9 from three. Barnum leads the Bulldogs

with eight points. MSU trails 27-22.