Mississippi State women win First Four game over Illinois

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jessika Carter had 22 factors, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks, Anastasia Hayes added 11 factors, seven rebounds and 5 assists and Mississippi State beat Illinois 70-56 on Wednesday night time to start the NCAA Event in a First 4 recreation.

Mississippi State (21-10) advances to the sphere of 64 to tackle No. 6 seed Creighton. The Bulldogs improved to 14-3 within the NCAA Event because the 2016-17 season.

Freshman Debreasha Powe scored 4 factors throughout Mississippi State’s 11-2 run to start the third quarter for a 42-32 lead. The Bulldogs prolonged it to 52-38 on the finish of the quarter after taking pictures 53%. Kourtney Weber sank a 3-pointer to cap a 9-1 run to start the fourth quarter for a 61-39 lead.

After Mississippi State’s lead was reduce to 12 factors with 4:19 left, Carter scored 4 straight factors to achieve 20-plus for the sixth time this season.

JerKaila Jordan additionally scored 11 factors for Mississippi State. Weber completed with eight factors.

Carter scored 10 factors within the first half to assist construct a 31-30 lead. Makira Prepare dinner scored 11 factors for Illinois, which shot 48% from the sphere however didn’t try a free throw in comparison with Mississippi State’s 10 of 12.

Prepare dinner, averaging 18.2 factors per recreation, scored 21 factors and Genesis Bryant added 17 for Illinois (22-10), which had top-of-the-line turnarounds within the nation after ending final season with a file of 7-20. Illinois’ first free throws of the sport got here with 5:35 left within the third quarter.

The Illini have been making their eighth journey to the NCAA Event, the primary since 2003.

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