Three Takeaways From MSU Women's Basketball's Opening Win Over Alcorn State
Mississippi State, ranked at No. 25 in the preseason AP Top 25, started its season off with a bang Monday night, opening with a 77-42 home victory over Alcorn State/
Although it is only the first game of the season, the Bulldogs looked promising on the court in their first victory, and there is a lot to look out for as we progress through the season. With that being said, here are three takeaways from their initial win:
Explosive Offense
The Bulldogs came roaring out of the gates, as three players posted double-doubles: Jerkaila Jordan (26 points and 13 rebounds), Jessika Carter (10 points and 13 rebounds), and Erin Barnum (13 points and 11 rebounds).
As a team, the Bulldogs put up 26 points in the first quarter and never trailed. Although their shooting looked suspect, going just 36 percent (27 of 74) from the field and 4 of 24 (17 percent) from the 3-point range, they outscored Alcorn State 19-2 from the free-throw line.
“Shoutout to my team for coming together and learning to play,” Bulldog head coach Sam Purcell said during his postgame press confernce. “I’ve got a lot of great individual talent, but I’m trying to make a great team. I saw glimpses of that, film will be great for us this week… and I expect my team to learn and grow this upcoming week, because boy do we have a big one coming up next.”
Lauren Park-Lane
Bulldog guard Lauren Park-Lane is a graduate transfer from Seton Hall, and showcased her abilities in her Mississippi State debut. Although her performance was muted compared to her teammates (four points and seven assists in 28 minutes), she reached 700 career assists.
"Lauren [Park Lane], she is special," Carter said. "Not only can she pass the ball, but she can also create for herself. Having a point guard like that opens the floor for everyone, as unselfish as she is as the point guard, but also doing the little things makes it enjoyable to play with her."
First Impressions
Although it is only Game 1, the Bulldogs could be a real threat in the SEC if they continue to play at the level they did and improve. The only real concern we've seen is the team's shooting woes, but that is something that can hopefully be cleaned up before conference play begins later this season.
State hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, where fans will get a second chance to see more of the offense.
