Mississippi State
7-0
North Dakota State
3-3
Vivians, Richardson Lead No. 23/25 MSU Past NDSU
December 02, 2014 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State turned in its most complete offensive effort of the season in Tuesday night's 109-58 win against North Dakota State at Humphrey Coliseum.
No. 23/25 MSU set season highs for field goal percentage (51.9%), 3-pointers (11) and rebounding margin (plus-23) en route to improving to 7-0 for the second-straight year. The Bulldogs had 24 assists, committed 13 turnovers and never trailed in the contest.
The 109 points tied for sixth-most in school history, and the tally gave the Bulldogs 80-plus points in six of the year's seven games for the first time in program annals.
State's total is the second-most points NDSU has ever allowed and just the third time, the first since 1980, it has given up 100 points.
“Obviously, we played our best game of the year,” MSU head coach Vic Schaefer said. “I love how hard we played, especially in the second half. North Dakota State is good. I think we caught them on the end of a long road trip, but a tip of the hat to my kids. We played hard and really shared the basketball.
“We did some things really well.”
Freshman Victoria Vivians led the MSU offensive attack as she matched her season high with 26 points. Sophomore Breanna Richardson posted her fifth career double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. LaKaris Salter had a season-high 16 points in nine minutes off the bench.
Freshman Morgan William added 12 points and junior Sherise Williams scored 11 points as the Bulldogs finished with five players in double figures.
“I was just looking forward to an opportunity,” Salter said. “If I am on the bench, I am cheering on my teammates. If I am on the floor, I am trying to help my team win. This was exciting because we played well as a team.”
The Bulldogs started fast, quickly building a 13-2 advantage. Vivians had two 3-point baskets and a layup during the run. A follow-up 13-4 run stretched the lead to 26-8 with 11:22 left in the half. That run was also capped by a 3-pointer from Vivians.
Vivians knocked down six of State's 11 3-pointers, the most since the 2010-11 team made 11 against Ole Miss (Feb. 27).
NDSU (3-2) closed within 36-26 with 5:05 left in the half. Baskets by Jerica James and Sherise Williams stretched the MSU lead to 49-34 at halftime.
“I was really proud of our energy,” Schaefer said. “I thought our point guard play was excellent, with both Jerica (James) and Morgan (William). Breanna did what we need her to do. We need a double-double from her every night.”
The Bulldogs continued the assault early in the second half. A 12-2 run started the half and ran the Maroon and White lead to 61-36. The Bulldogs used a variety of combinations and got 13 players into the action, with 12 finding the scoring column.
A 13-4 MSU run ran the lead to 74-42 on another Vivians 3-point basket. The Bulldogs' biggest lead was the final margin in the contest.
For the contest, the Bulldogs hit 40 of 77 shots from the field (51.9 percent), 11 of 22 shots from 3-point range (50.0 percent) and 18 of 26 shots from the foul line (69.2 percent). The Bison hit 22 of 59 shots from the field (37.3 percent), 3 of 15 shots from 3-point range (20.0 percent) and 11 of 18 shots from the foul line (61.1 percent).
MSU's 53-30 rebounding advantage was the largest margin since Schaefer's first game at the helm when the Dawgs had a plus-26 advantage in a 72-66 win against Houston.
The Bulldogs had 24 assists and 13 turnovers, while the Bison had 12 assists and 21 turnovers.
NDSU received 17 points from Brooke LeMar and 12 points from Marena Whitle.
MSU continues a three-game homestand Sunday when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana in a 2 p.m. tip on SEC Network +.
