MSU Women’s Basketball Team Tops Tulane, Advances In NCAA Tournament

DURHAM, N.C. (WCBI Sports) – The Mississippi State women’s basketball team’s record-breaking season will continue.

The Bulldogs beat Tulane 57-47 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Friday, setting up a second round matchup with Duke Sunday on the Blue Devils’ home floor.

Breanna Richardson led MSU with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

“Coach just said we got out-toughed,” Richardson said of the Green Wave’s early second half run. “I just figured we needed some juice, so I had to get us started some type of way. It picked up our energy and got us started.”

Morgan William contributed 14 points for the fifth-seeded Bulldogs (27-6), who shot 48 percent in the second half.

A 22-2 run in the second half pushed the Bulldogs’ lead well into double figures. Tulane pulled to 53-44 after hitting eight free throws before William went 4-for-4 from the line in the final minute to seal the game.

“Hey, we didn’t play very good. Give Tulane credit, they had a lot to do with it,” Schaefer said. “It’s good to know you can win an NCAA Tournament game knowing you didn’t play your best.”

MSU entered the game having already set program records for overall wins and SEC victories. State has never lost its first NCAA Tournament game since its first appearance in 1999.

MSU will play four seed Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN2. The winner will advance to the Sweet 16.

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