Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacek Featured Columnist IV January 30, 2024
Michael Hickey/NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The reigning champions are having some trouble.
Unranked Mississippi State defeated No. 9 LSU 77-73 in Monday’s SEC women’s basketball showdown, which means the Tigers have now lost two straight and three of their last five. They also lost to Auburn on Jan. 14 and No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday.
According to ESPN, the only other reigning national champion to lose back-to-back games in the last decade was the 2017-18 Gamecocks team, which dropped two straight to UConn and Mississippi State.
NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessWBB That feeling when you secure your first top-10 win since 2018 💪🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 IG / @HailStateWBK pic.twitter.com/H07cL4xhuJ
JerKaila Jordan starred in the Bulldogs’ upset with 24 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists. She was the only starter for the home team to score in double figures, although Darrione Rogers (19 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range and three rebounds) and Mjracle Sheppard (12 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds) provided an important spark off the bench.
While Mississippi State was strong on the defensive end for much of the game and forced 21 LSU turnovers, it struggled to slow down Angel Reese.
The LSU star impressed with 20 points, 18 rebounds, five steals and two assists, although it wasn’t enough with fellow star Hailey Van Lith struggling on the way to four points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.
The Tigers were down by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but it seemed like they might steal a win when a late run closed the deficit to three in the final two minutes.
However, Rogers hit the biggest shot of the game with a three-pointer to push the lead back to six and then fittingly hit the free throw to all but ice it in the final seconds.
Southeastern Conference @SEC The dagger. 😮💨@SamPurcellMSU’s reaction. 😂@HailStateWBK x @espnW pic.twitter.com/uvXAITdXRH
Mississippi State improved to 17-5 overall and 4-3 in the SEC, while LSU fell to 18-4 on the season and 5-3 in conference play.
Both teams are looking up at undefeated South Carolina, which is 19-0 on the campaign and 7-0 in the SEC.
