Without Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State women's basketball runs away vs Missouri
STARKVILLE — There wasn’t much time to ponder the sudden loss of Rickea Jackson before Mississippi State women’s basketball found itself back on the floor.
Jackson entered the transfer portal Monday. By Thursday night, the Bulldogs were playing against Missouri at Humphrey Coliseum. They had lost the SEC’s leading scorer, leaving the team even smaller — in physical stature and general depth.
And yet, when the final buzzer sounded, Mississippi State had beaten Missouri, 77-62.
“You can choose to follow the distractions, or you can choose to focus on the task at hand," Mississippi State interim coach Doug Novak said. "And obviously, our team chose the latter."
The Bulldogs had lost their best player but played one of their best games, following a script of what a small-ball team must accomplish.
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They hit 3-pointers. They forced the Tigers (15-6, 4-4 SEC) to commit turnovers. They turned those turnovers into baskets.
That formula allowed Mississippi State (12-7, 3-4) to weather the departure of Jackson — at least for one game — with Caterrion Thompson and Anastasia Hayes leading the offense.
"I've been at college for a while, so I know the ups and downs to a season," Thompson said. "Really, just trying to keep the team together, play hard for each other. I think that's the most important thing we can do right now."
The departure
The decision to enter the transfer portal came on the heels of a 20-point loss to Arkansas on Sunday, but it had been building for some time. Mississippi State’s season began on uncertain terms, with coach Nikki McCray-Penson resigning.
There have been several instances of tension between players, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. The latest one occurred after the Bulldogs lost to the Razorbacks, according to the sources who requested anonymity. That isn’t the solitary reason Jackson transferred, according to one source.
Jackson became the third player to enter the transfer portal this season, and more changes could come over the following months, as the program looks to find a permanent head coaching solution.
“There’s always some sort of distraction. Obviously, this is a major one,” Novak said Wednesday. “It’s up to us, it’s our choice, of what you want to focus on.”
Novak wanted Mississippi State to focus on Thursday’s game, and the team did, putting together a strong performance.
"That's the way to battle," Hayes said. "That's the way to fight. That's the way to win."
Forcing turnovers
Missouri struggled to take care of possession, turning the ball over 20 times. Those turnovers helped Mississippi State, playing into the Bulldogs’ best interest.
With four guards on the floor, Mississippi State wanted to push the pace in transition during the first half. And it worked. The Bulldogs scored 24 points off turnovers.
"We've focused on defense and letting that create our offense," Hayes said. "On offense, just taking great shots. Moving the ball, passing with each other, playing with each other. You might have a shot there, but if you have one more (pass), that'll make it a great shot."
Raining from deep
After Jackson’s departure, Novak said that when one player leaves, an opportunity arises for someone else. That opportunity arrived for Thompson, who was inserted into the starting lineup.
She took the chance to score 27 points — her most since Feb. 29, 2020, when she played for Bowling Green — with seven 3-pointers.
"She's been limited this year, but she always keeps a positive attitude," Hayes said. "She shoots before practice. She shoots after practice. She keeps everyone encouraged. She's a leader on this team, and she may not play as much, but she's a leader, and I knew eventually her time would come. And tonight was her night. She stepped up for her team."
The Bulldogs had entered shooting 26.6% from 3-point range — the lowest percentage in the SEC and 296th-worst clip in the country.
Hayes, who scored 24 points, added three from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs shot 51.9% on 3-pointers, making a season-high 14.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State women's basketball beats Missouri: No Rickea Jackson
