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Nwaedozi's monster day leads Bulldogs to 87-64 blowout over Southern Miss

3rupauk8_400x400by: Robbie Faulk1 hour agoRobbieFaulkOn3

With a much-improved Southern Miss team coming to town and the Christmas holidays just around the corner, Sam Purcell needed urgency from his team on Sunday.

The coach got just that as the Bulldogs never struggled against the instate foe. Behind Favour Nwaedozi’s career day and three other double-digit scorers, State blasted the Golden Eagles in a 87-64 win to move to 10-1 on the year.

“We were locked in on the defensive end,” Purcell said. “They were locked in, especially on another night that we didn’t finish around the rim. It was great to see the defensive effort for three and a half quarters.”

Nwaedozi was a force inside for State as she delivered the first 20-rebound game since Madina Okot’s against Vanderbilt last February. Nwaedozi equaled that 23-rebound game that Okot delivered in Nashville as she had a career high in rebounds and added her career-best 21 points as well. Nwaedozi shot 10-of-17 from the field in a team-high 33 minutes.

The length of Nwaedozi and the Bulldogs’ relentless pursuit at the glass was a big difference between the two teams. State outrebounded USM 55-30 in the game and had 22 second chance points. The Bulldogs also had a 52-20 edge in the paint as they cleaned up inside against a smaller Golden Eagle lineup.

“I just played to what my coaches have always said – play hard, square up and get into a body to get a rebound,” Nwaedozi said. “All of those things really work (so) listen to your coach.”

Third quarter run gives State plenty of room to breathe

The game was won in the first and third quarters for the Bulldogs as they did their best work there. State had a 21-10 lead in the first quarter and extended it out to 18 points with just over 3 minutes left in the half. After the Golden Eagles went on an 11-2 run down the stretch, the lead got as close as 10, but State was able to take a 40-28 lead into the locker room.

The hot start in the third quarter would put the game away for good. State came out of the locker room on a 13-0 run and built that lead to 68-42 at the end of the third and it grew to as much as 31 points in the fourth quarter.

State shot 47% from the field at 33-of-70 from the field and 6-of-14 from three. The numbers could have been even better if the Bulldogs finished inside the paint, something that the team continues to work on under Purcell said.

“We’re trying – we’ve just got to slow down,” Purcell said. “If I can just get them to understand to take one more step and go straight up and try to slap the backboard instead of jumping out of bounds, good things are ahead for the Dawgs. You make those layups and free throws and you’re watching a team that’s able to put up 100 every single night.”

USM was just 35% from the field and the Golden Eagles finished strong from long range hitting 12-of-31 as they continue to be one of the best in the country from deep.

While both teams had 12 turnovers in the contest, State outscored USM 19-5 off of turnovers.

Also scoring in double figures during the game was senior Chandler Prater who was an efficient 8-of-11 from the field for 18 points and 10 rebounds. Destiney McPhaul had 14 points and four assists while Trayanna Crisp had 12 points and four assists.

State has now won six-straight games since a loss at undefeated Texas Tech and the Bulldogs are down to their final three games in non-conference play. Next up is a matchup against Alabama State on Wednesday night at The Hump.

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on SEC Network +.  

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