#4 MSU Bounces Back With Rout Win At Washington

SEATTLE, Wash. / Hail State Athletics — Nno. 4 Mississippi State returned to the win column in resounding fashion with a 103-56 victory over Washington Thursday night at Alaska Airlines Arena.

Playing less than 48 hours after a season-opening 10-game win streak ended with a loss at No. 7 Oregon, the Bulldogs responded by shooting 56.9 percent from the field, while setting an arena record for most points by a visiting team.

“I thought our transition was good early,” head coach Vic Schaefer said. “I thought Jordan [Danberry] was really good tonight. I thought we were really, really good coming out of the gate. The film doesn’t lie. We watched a lot of film the last day and a half. Hopefully we learned from it. I was anxious to see tonight how we would respond. I am very pleased obviously.”

MSU (11-1) has scored 100 or more five times in a game this season. Eleven players scored for the Dawgs, tying the team’s season high.

Jordan Danberry led the way with a career-high 20 points for the Bulldogs. Four others were in double figures – Anriel Howard (16 points), Chloe Bibby (15 points), Teaira McCowan (13 points) and Andra Espinoza-Hunter (11 points).

The Bulldogs matched a season high with 13 steals. Danberry had a career-high four steals, while Jazzmun Holmes matched her season best with four as well. Howard recorded three takeaways. McCowan pulled down 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double on the season and the 48th of her career.

The tone was set in the first quarter. The Bulldogs held the Huskies to seven points, which matched the second-lowest point total allowed in a quarter this season. MSU scored the game’s first seven points, and Bibby capped an 11-0 run for an 18-3 lead. Bre’Amber Scott closed the scoring in the quarter with a putback basket for a 28-7 MSU lead after one quarter.

Holmes scored on the first possession of the second quarter to stretch the lead to 23. A 15-2 run would send the Maroon and White to a 49-18 advantage. The Bulldogs led 56-21 at halftime.

In the second half, the lead grew to 40 at 62-22 on a basket by Danberry. The Bulldogs were on cruise control from there, holding a similar lead the rest of the way.

State made 41-of-72 attempts from the field (55 percent) and dominated the paint, outscoring the Huskies 62-20 in that category. Including their steals, the Dawgs forced 23 total turnovers and converted 30 points off Washington’s missteps.

MSU held a 45-25 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 19 assists and 14 turnovers, while the Huskies had 17 assists and 23 turnovers.

Washington (7-5) received 11 points from Alexis Griggsby and 10 points from Hannah Johnson.

The Bulldogs will now dismiss their players to head home for the winter holidays before reconvening on Dec. 26. MSU will close out 2018 hosting Louisiana on Dec. 30 with tipoff set for 2 p.m. CT in Humphrey Coliseum.