STARKVILLE — Vic Schaefer doesn’t often use the word “dominate” to describe an opponent’s performance against his defense.
That Schaefer used that term when discussing the effort of Oklahoma State’s Loryn Goodwin in the Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s 79-76 victory in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Dec. 3 in Starkville speaks volumes about the ability of the graduate student.
The 5-foot-9 point guard had a season-high 35 points and pushed, probed, and controlled the tempo in nearly lifting the Cowgirls to the upset.
Things were different Monday night.
Thanks largely to a stronger defensive effort led by senior Morgan William, No. 1 seed MSU limited Goodwin to 14 points on 4-for-14 shooting in a 71-56 victory against No. 9 seed Oklahoma State before a crowd of 9,881 in the second round of the NCAA tournament at Humphrey Coliseum.
“I think they hedged a little bit harder than they did the first game,” Goodwin said. “The first game, I was able to get a lot of points in transition and they sent about three back after the ball got in, so we had to slow the ball down and get into our sets. They hedged a lot and tried to get it out of my hands and I was able to find my teammates and get assists, but I think they just slowed us down in
transition.”
MSU (34-1) limited OSU (21-11) to two fast-break points and zero second-chance points. Goodwin still had her moments when she controlled play, particularly in the first half when she had 10 of her points and five of her eight assists. But she picked up her fourth foul with 4 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter and could have been called for her fifth later in the period.
“I got some early fouls, but I think that one really turned the game,” Goodwin said. “I had to come off the ball a little bit and that took away pressure off the point guard. She was able to get downhill even more and create for the team and Kaylee (Jensen) had to come over and help, and that is how (Teaira) McCowan started getting going and getting those back-side rebounds. Then Braxtin went down, and she is a huge piece of our team, especially on defense. That was tough, too.”
McCowan makes presence felt
McCowan’s double-double machine plows on.
The 6-7 junior center recorded her program-record 25th double-double with 21 points and 18 rebounds (eight offensive) to help the Bulldogs control the glass (41-31) and earn a 44-26 edge in points in the paint.
“I just felt like I had to do what I was put out on the court to do,” McCowan said. “My teammates were getting me the ball, so I guess I was getting my work done early and getting in position and being in the right places for them to deliver me the ball to score and get and-ones.”
McCowan was especially active in the third quarter when MSU used a 20-11 period to gain the separation it needed. Five of McCowan’s six rebounds in the stanza came on the offensive end, including one she converted into a three-point play as she fell down.
“Normally in the first half, people try to outrun me,” McCowan said. “Sometimes they’re successful, but I am not really bothered by it because I know by the end of the game I am going to be the one outrunning them. That’s what happened tonight.”
McCowan smiled and said she wouldn’t have been able to do that earlier in her career. She said she probably would have been out on the court and fouling “for stupid reasons.”
“Teaira didn’t start great, but man, you saw the value of Teaira McCowan to our program tonight,” Schaefer said. “She had 21-18. 21-18. That’s 21 of the quietest points I have ever seen. I had no clue she had 21. She was eight out of 12 for 67 percent. She knows that is what I’m liking. I’m liking the 70 percent from the free-throw line.”
OSU coach Jim Littell said McCowan has a future in professional basketball when her college career ends.
“She is very strong, long armed, great position rebounder, and she plays off her teammates,” Littell said. “What I mean by that is when they beat us off the dribble, we had to take one step over to try to help with our big and then it was over. She was just cleaning up on the back side. Kaylee Jensen has done that a lot for us, so I am very familiar with that.
“She is big strong, finishes, a really good player.”
Strong turnout
MSU drew a total attendance of 20,092 in the first and second rounds, which is believed to be the second-highest total of any of the 16 host sites.
South Carolina had a total attendance of 21,122 for its two games at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina. That figure just missed eclipsing the NCAA all-time record of 21,129 for the first two rounds set March 20 and 22, 2015, at Colonial Life Arena.
MSU’s total attendance is the third-highest total all-time.
“During my tenure at Oklahoma State, I have been very fortunate to go to five NCAA tournaments in the last seven years,” Littell said. “This is a place great place to go. The hospitality here, the way the people have been here, everything has been first class.”
Schaefer was equally appreciative of the crowd.
“What a blessing from the Lord to give these seniors that atmosphere and to go out one last ballgame at State, in a big ballgame on a big stage, on national TV, to play in that environment,” Schaefer said.
High praise for Vivians
As much praise as Littell had for McCowan, he had even more for Vivians, saying the Cowgirls didn’t have an answer for her in either matchup this season. Vivians had 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting, eight rebounds, and three steals in the meeting in December.
“Vivians very well could be a first-round pick (in the WNBA),” Littell said. “She is going to play and make money in the WNBA and overseas. She is one of the toughest guards we have had all year. We don’t have a matchup for her. We tried to guard her with Mandy Coleman and she is a four (power forward). This kid is a guard that can get downhill, shoo the three, and has a great intermediate game. When you can score at three levels like she can and is a great free shooter, she scores off the dribble, she has an intermediate game, and she shoots the three, it makes you a very dynamic offensive player.”
Vivians and William moved into sole possession of first place in games played at the school with their 144th game. On Saturday, they tied former teammate Breanna Richardson, who had held the all-time lead with 143 games.
Last game in the Hump for seniors
Schaefer took the opportunity to honor his starters and his seniors with 24.6 seconds when he substituted Vivians, Schaefer, Roshunda Johnson, McCowan, and William. Each player received a big hug from their head coach and a rousing round of applause from the fans, who were all standing.
“Just having everyone there, I can’t thank them enough,” William said. “From freshman year to now, they have been incredible. They’re the best fans in the world.”
Said Vivians, “It was amazing. I am glad I got to spend it with the people I did today. We went undefeated this season in the Hump. I feel like the atmosphere when we all subbed out was great. That is another plus. I am going to miss it.”
Quote of the night
“I think the team that was more tough, had more in them, was wanting to win — I think that is what this tournament is all about, the team that has the most left in them. I feel like when they got tired, we weren’t, and we punched and punched and punched and they essentially got punched. I think that is when we spread the lead a little bit. When a team is down, we try to put them away and keep it going. That is when they called the timeout first, and that is when it went downhill for them.”
— MSU senior guard Blair Schaefer
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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