STARKVILLE — Statistics can be used to prove nearly every point.
When it comes to the 2011-12 Mississippi State University women’s basketball team, it’s hard to ignore two statistical categories that have played significant roles through the first 20 games.
Not only is MSU last in the Southeastern Conference in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio, but it also is 11th in rebounding margin. At first glance, the 41.6-41.5 total appears inconsequential. But when you consider only SEC games, the difference climbs to 44.1-36.4.
The fact that MSU’s opponents are getting nearly eight more rebounds a game is even more glaring when you consider SEC foes have grabbed 21 or more offensive rebounds in six of seven games this season.
The rebounding battle figures to be center stage at 1 p.m. today (Fox Sports Net) when MSU (13-7, 3-4 SEC) plays at the University of South Carolina (16-5, 5-3). The Gamecocks are second in the SEC in rebounding margin with a plus-6.9 edge, and first in rebounding defense (3.27 per game).
MSU coach Sharon Fanning-Otis said rebounding and turnovers defined her team against Arkansas. She said the Lady Bulldogs played good enough defense, but she lamented deficits of 18-4 in second-chance points and 14-6 in points off turnovers.
“Everything about our game is about being tougher,” Fanning-Otis said. “When you’re tougher, you’re more focused. When you’re tougher, you set better screens. When you’re tougher, you’re more patient. When you’re tougher, you expect to win and you don’t break down. Mental toughness is probably one of the most important aspects of life, along with compassion.”
The matchup is critical for MSU, which slipped from sixth into a three-way tie for seventh after a 51-35 loss to the University of Arkansas on Thursday. MSU, which has been outrebounded in all seven SEC games this season, surrendered 25 offensive rebounds and was outrebounded by seven in the loss. Arkansas also had a 14-point edge in second-chance points, marking the seventh consecutive game MSU has had a negative margin in that category.
Last season, MSU was outrebounded in 11 SEC regular-season games, but only one opponent (the University of Tennessee) grabbed more than 20 offensive rebounds (26) in a game.
This season, MSU had a positive rebounding edge in nine of its 13 non-conference games. Last season, it had a positive rebounding margin in seven of 12 non-conference games.
Three of MSU’s top rebounders from last season are averaging fewer rebounds than last season. Ashley Brown is down from 7.7 rebounds to 6.7 this season, while Catina Bett is down from 5.4 to 3.8 and Porsha Porter is down from 5.8 to 4.8 The emergence of freshman center/forward Martha Alwal, who is averaging a team-best 7.8 rebounds per game, explains why some of the Lady Bulldogs aren’t averaging totals like they did last season.
Even with Alwal, a 6-foot-4 freshman, MSU has had difficulty matching the physicality of SEC opponents. The Lady Bulldogs have had trouble boxing out and pushing players away from the basket and out of prime rebounding position. The combination of giving away possessions with too many turnovers and losing the rebounding battle helps explains why MSU is 11th in the SEC in scoring offense (60.5 points per game). Auburn is last at 58.8 ppg.
Like last season, MSU has fallen into scoring lulls in which it can’t sustain solid play. On Thursday, MSU built a 16-10 lead against Arkansas and then hurt itself with unforced turnovers and missed opportunities.
“It was a lull we never got out of,” MSU senior point guard Diamber Johnson said Thursday. “We were taking care of the ball and we were getting stops and then, suddenly, we’re turning the ball over and they’re getting first, second, and third shots. Then it got to not having the accountability we need. It was like pointing fingers like, ‘OK, is that your girl?’ It is a whole team thing. We were selfish as a team tonight.”
Johnson, who was with teammate Katia May at the Oxford-New Hope basketball doubleheader Friday night, said her mother, Adella, was expected to be released from the hospital Saturday after she suffered a heart attack Thursday morning. Johnson spent most of Thursday with her mother before returning to Starkville to play against Arkansas. She had a season-low two points on 1-of-10 shooting in the loss and said thinking about her mother affected her play.
Johnson didn’t point fingers in talking about MSU’s need for improvement on its defensive boards. She said everyone needs to help out to give the team a better chance to win.
“It is a toughness thing,” Johnson said. “We just have to get mentally tougher. In practice, that is something they always harp on, especially (Arkansas) and how they have been outrebounding everyone. … We didn’t execute our stuff tonight and we let them do what they do. … Every rebound it felt like it was in their hands.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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