Big outings from Favour Nwaedozi and Chandler Prater powered the Mississippi State women’s basketball team to an 87-64 win over Southern Miss on Sunday.
Mississippi State (10-1) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, holding a 40-28 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs doubled up Southern Miss (7-4) in the third quarter before gliding through the fourth quarter and walking off the court in Starkville with their sixth win in a row.
Nwaedozi notched 21 points and 23 rebounds, becoming the third player in the nation this season and the first in the SEC to reach the 20-20 mark. Her 23 rebounds are the fourth-most in a single game in program history.
“I just played to what my coaches say,” the junior forward said after the career performance. “Play hard, square up, and hit a body to get rebounds, and all of those things worked.”
Prater had 18 points and 10 rebounds, joining Nwaedozi on the double-double list. The graduate guard was an efficient 8-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-2 from three-point range.
“Chandler is more explosive when she attacks the basket and is taking care of the ball,” head coach Sam Purcell said. “The game is slowing down for her, and she’s able to shoot 8-of-11. It’s just phenomenal, and she’s able to lead the team. That’s huge going into SEC play.”
Destiney McPhaul added 14 points, including three scores from beyond the arc, and Trayanna Crisp tied her season-high of 12 points. The Bulldogs shot 47% from the field, including a 43% mark from three-point range.
Southern Miss was led by senior guard Hayleigh Breland (24 points) and junior guard Morgan Seiper (15 points). As a team, though, the Golden Eagles were suboptimal from the field with a 35% shooting percentage as no other player had more than nine points.
Up next
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs host Alabama State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. CT
Southern Miss: The Golden Eagles host South Alabama on Thursday at 5 p.m.