Refocused Bulldogs hope to keep run going in WBIT Sunday vs. TCU

Disappointment was evident from Mississippi State players and coach Sam Purcell after the team missed out on the NCAA Tournament, but the team has new life in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

The secondary postseason tournament can usually go two different ways for team. Some teams get into tournaments like the WBIT and play uninspired basketball. Other teams cherish the opportunity and come out motivated and that’s the kind of basketball Purcell got from his players last Thursday against Georgia Tech.

State got out to an 11-0 start in that ball game and ran away with a 84-47 victory. It was easily the largest margin of victory in the first round of the tournament among the total of 16 games.

“It felt great to play,” Purcell said. “Everybody knows that there was a sour taste for how the month ended, but I’m the happiest coach in the world because in an era where a lot of programs around the country have decided to check out, my team has never checked out. They’re locked in. They’re proud to represent their university and playing their heart out.”

Three different SEC teams made the WBIT but the Bulldogs are the last standing. Florida and Arkansas each bowed out of the tournament last week when the Gators lost 79-60 to St. John’s and Arkansas 80-62 to Tulsa.

Many thought the Bulldogs might join the other two with an early exit thanks to the funk the team has been in the last month. After starting the year 7-3 in SEC play and 20-5 overall with six-straight victories, the Bulldogs closed with six losses in the last seven games and five of them came by double digits.

Purcell seeing his team come out and dominate a game again was a breath of fresh air. He attributes it to the Bulldogs getting a chance to step back and get a breath after the SEC Tournament loss to Texas A&M.

“It was a crazy month. You saw a team that was able to get a break. We didn’t want that break after the SEC Tournament, but we needed it,” Purcell said. “We’re tired of the narratives. We’re tired of the same old, same old so I told them if you feel this way and are tired of the same old same, come out and do something different. I was proud of how they came out and punched somebody in the face.”

Freshman Jasmine Brown-Hagger was a big reason for the win as she poured in a career-high 18 points off the bench. It was a spirited night for the freshman who has been working hard this year to help the team any way that she could.

On this night, the hard work paid off and she was able to have a breakthrough performance.

“Honestly, I wasn’t even thinking to score – I think that’s just how the cards were dealt (Thursday),” Brown-Hagger. “I’m normally defensive-minded so I really just feel like I’ll get stops on defense and that just contributed to offense.”

Dangerous Horned Frogs on the way

One win down, three more to go for State.

The No. 2 seeded Bulldogs (22-11) will host No. 3 seeded TCU (21-13) on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Horned Frogs have been overlooked and counted out all season long, but they have Purcell’s attention.

Injuries ravaged the Horned Frogs this year in head coach Mark Campbell’s first season. The former Oregon assistant coach led TCU to a school-record 14-0 start before those injuries kicked in and had the team down to the point where TCU had to advertise for walk on players to help fill out the roster.

After six-straight losses and 11 losses in 12 games that included two forfeits, the Horned Frogs have fought back to win six of the last eight ball games.

The Horned Frogs have been playing six players normally and former Oregon and Texas player Sedona Prince makes the team go. The 6’7 player averages 20 points a game and 9.7 rebounds.

“I’m telling our fanbase right now you want to come out. I recruited her in high school and she is special. Our fanbase has never seen anything like this. She’s 6’7, can shoot the three, long and lanky,” Purcell said.

“They’re tough. They had a phase like us where they were in the top 25 and then had some injuries. It’s going to be a war, but when you play here at home and our fanbase shows up like no other, I like our chances.”

Sunday’s game at Humphrey Coliseum can be seen on ESPN+ with a subscription. Tickets will be available at the box office.