Lady Razorbacks still winless in SEC

TODD ANDERSON
SPECIAL TO THE DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Arkansas had dominated its series with Mississippi State until last season, when the Lady Bulldogs won two of three meetings by an average of 15 points.
No. 22 Mississippi State made it three of the past four Thursday night, defeating the Lady Razorbacks 69-56 before a record crowd of 2,738 at Humphrey Coliseum.
It was the Lady Razorbacks' fifth consecutive loss, and it extended Mississippi State's school-record winning streak to 16 games.
Four Mississippi State players had at least 10 points, led by Latoya Thomas, the SEC's leading scorer who scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the first half Thursday.
"The story tonight was not Arkansas," Lady Razorbacks Coach Gary Blair said. "The story tonight was Mississippi State. Give them credit. They are playing well, and they are playing within themselves.
"They let all five [of their starters] play over 30 minutes, and they were able to stay out of foul trouble. That might get you later on in the year, but right now it is working for them."
Arkansas' Lonniya Bragg, fresh off a 17-point effort against Kentucky on Sunday night, came back with another strong game, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds on 60 percent shooting (6 of 10) from the floor. Karyn Karlin and Wendi Willits also finished with 12 points.
Lakishia Harper, who had missed the past five games because of injury, played 17 minutes off the bench Thursday night and finished with four points and seven rebounds.
"It felt a little weird being back," said Harper, who sustained a stress fracture in her foot against New Mexico. "I practiced a few times and I got my confidence back, so I felt pretty good coming out tonight. I got winded a little bit in the first half, but I felt comfortable out there."
Mississippi State (14-2, 3-2 SEC) won the opening tip and Thomas went right to work, scoring seven points to fuel a 13-2 Mississippi State run.
Thomas scored on a three-point play to give the Lady Bulldogs a 16-5 lead at the 12:44 mark, but Harper answered with a fadeaway jumper that sparked a 15-4 run by Arkansas (9-7, 0-4) that tied the game at 20 with 6:36 left in the half. The run lasted a little more than seven minutes as Arkansas limited Thomas' touches and held her scoreless.
The teams exchanged baskets for the next two minutes before Thomas nailed a jumper and fueled a run that gave the Lady Bulldogs a 36-30 lead heading into halftime.
Mississippi State scored the first eight points of the second half to take a 44-30 lead just less than five minutes into the half. The Lady Razorbacks helped, missing their first six shots of the half.
Arkansas managed to stay within striking distance thanks to its post play. Mississippi State held Arkansas' guards scoreless in the half until Willits came alive and hit her third-consecutive three-pointer, which brought Arkansas within 60-51 with 5:37 remaining.
Arkansas freshman Dana Cherry then took over, scoring five consecutive points to pull Arkansas within 64-56 with 3:42 left.
The teams traded points until Mississippi State senior Cynthia Hall of Pine Bluff came up with two steals. She converted the second into a breakaway layup, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 67-56 lead.
Willits stumbled and twisted her ankle on Arkansas' next possession, and Hall scooped up the ball and went the length of the court to make the final 69-56.
Blair said his team is not feeling sorry for itself, even though it has struggled over the past five games.
"We have had too much success over the years to feel sorry for ourselves right now," he said. "Our job is to get better and do a better job out on the court teaching.
"If we do a better job of communicating, we will get better as we go."
Arkansas returns to action Sunday afternoon, when it plays host to Vanderbilt. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

This article was published on Friday, January 21, 2000

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