ESTERO, Fla. — The Mississippi State women’s basketball team saw its season-opening seven-game win streak snapped Sunday with a 62-48 loss to Middle Tennessee State in the championship game of the Gulf Coast Showcase.
Tournament MVP Ebony Rowe had 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead MTSU (4-3) to its first victory of the season against a team from the Southeastern Conference. MTSU has lost to Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas.
“We ran into a really good basketball team,” said MSU coach Vic Schaefer, whose team went 2-1 in the eight-team, three-day event. “They are traditionally in the NCAA Tournament. We were a little tired. We pressed for 40 minutes the first two games and I think that took a lot of out of us.”
MTSU built a 6-1 lead before MSU responded, taking its only lead of the game 11-10 on a basket by Ketara Chapel.
The Blue Raiders answered with the game’s next seven points and didn’t trail the rest of the way.
MSU was playing without backup point guard Jerica James. James injured her shoulder in Saturday’s semifinal round victory against James Madison.
MSU was 5 of 28 from the field in the opening half and trailed 30-15 at halftime.
“I am proud of my kids. We have played very good teams and we have played hard against them. We have been tested three straight days,” Schaefer said. “We are fortunate. We came here and won two games. You come here so you can learn about your team and address things before conference play begins.”
The Blue Raiders ran the lead to 22 less three minutes into second half.
“We are still learning,” Schaefer said. “We are learning how to play and how to compete. I thought Katia May and Savannah Carter played their guts out tonight. (Winning two games here) shows growth in our program. To come here and compete and win two games against quality opponents is nothing but a positive.
“I am excited about this team. We have a chance to be quite a bit better. We need to get to the practice floor now and get better.”
MSU was 16 of 55 from the field (29.1 percent), 2 of 7 from 3-point range (28.6), and 14 of 23 from the free-throw line (60.9). MTSU was 22 of 49 from the field (44.9), 2 of 11 from 3-point range (18.2), and 16 of 25 from the free-throw line (64.0).
MTSU held a 43-34 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had seven assists and 13 turnovers, while the Blue Raiders had 14 assists and 16 turnovers.
Carter led MSU with 14 points. Martha Alwal had six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. The blocked shots allowed Alwal set a new career MSU blocks record with 183. Alwal also was named to the all-tournament team.
MSU will play host to Louisiana-Lafayette at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Humphrey Coliseum.
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