The air inside Humphrey Coliseum has been a little different lately. It’s that familiar, thick tension you only get when a program is teetering between "good" and "actually terrifying." If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Mississippi State women's basketball score over the last few weeks, you know exactly what I’m talking about. This isn't just a team playing through a schedule; it’s a group trying to reclaim a throne they once sat on very comfortably.
Honestly, being a fan right now is a bit of a rollercoaster. One night they’re dropping 112 points on Samford and looking like the 2017 squad, and the next, they’re battling through a gritty SEC slog where every bucket feels like a miracle. But that’s the Sam Purcell era for you. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically aggressive.
The Most Recent Drama on the Court
Let’s talk about the game that still has everyone in Starkville talking. Just a couple of days ago, on January 15, the Bulldogs faced off against a fifth-ranked Vanderbilt team that hadn't lost a single game all season. Seriously—Vandy walked into "The Hump" sitting at 17-0.
The final Mississippi State women's basketball score ended up being 84-89 in favor of the Commodores. It was a heartbreaker, no doubt. But the score doesn't tell the whole story. The Bulldogs were down by double digits in the fourth and somehow clawed back to within a single possession. You've got to appreciate that kind of fight.
Mikayla Blakes for Vanderbilt was basically a cheat code, dropping 38 points. But State countered with some serious muscle in the paint, outscoring the Dores 42-32 under the basket. It was one of those games where you hate the result but love the direction the team is heading. They didn't blink against a top-5 opponent. They just ran out of time.
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Breaking Down the 2025-26 Season (So Far)
If you haven't been following every single whistle, the Bulldogs are currently sitting at 14-5 overall and 1-4 in the SEC. Now, I know that conference record looks a little rough on paper. But look at the gauntlet they just ran:
- January 4: A tough road loss at #8 Oklahoma (47-95).
- January 8: A battle with #20 Tennessee (80-90).
- January 11: The rivalry game against #18 Ole Miss (68-93).
- January 15: The thriller against #5 Vanderbilt (84-89).
Basically, they’ve played four straight ranked teams. Most programs would crumble under that, but the Bulldogs have kept their heads up. They started the season like a house on fire, winning 14 of their first 15 games. They even snagged the Emerald Coast Classic title back in November.
Who Is Powering This Offense?
The scoring this year is a lot more balanced than we've seen in the past. It’s not just one person carrying the load. Favour Nwaedozi and Madison Francis have been the pillars. Both are averaging over 13 points per game, but Nwaedozi is also a double-double machine. Watching her work the glass is sort of a masterclass in positioning.
Then you have Destiney McPhaul. She’s the engine. When she’s hitting her shots and finding Jaylah Lampley or Chandler Prater on the perimeter, this team is nearly impossible to stop. They’re averaging nearly 80 points a game as a unit. That is a lot of track-meet style basketball.
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The Sam Purcell Factor
You can't talk about the Mississippi State women's basketball score without talking about Sam Purcell. He’s in his fourth year now, and he’s already the winningest coach in program history through a debut three-season stretch. He brought them back to the NCAA Tournament after a hiatus, and he's been recruiting like a man possessed.
The 2025 signing class he just landed is ranked 10th in the nation. That’s huge. It means the "down" years are officially over. He has this philosophy about defense—he wants to hold opponents under 60. While the SEC scoring has been a bit higher than that lately, the intensity is clearly there.
What’s Next for the Bulldogs?
The schedule doesn't get any easier, but the opportunities for "Quadrant 1" wins are everywhere. Tomorrow, January 18, they host #7 Kentucky. It’s another chance to prove they belong in the top tier of the SEC.
Kentucky leads the all-time series, but in Starkville, it’s always a toss-up. If the Bulldogs can tighten up the perimeter defense and stop giving up 10+ three-pointers a game, they’re going to start flipping these close losses into statement wins.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following the team and want to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you should be watching:
- Watch the Turnover Margin: When State keeps it under 12 turnovers, they win. Period. Their transition game is too good to be wasted on unforced errors.
- The "Hump" Advantage: Attendance has been climbing. If you're in the area, getting to Humphrey Coliseum actually matters. The energy during that Vanderbilt comeback was a factor.
- Free Throw Efficiency: In the Vanderbilt loss, Vandy went 18-of-20 from the line. State has been hovering around 72%. Those 3 or 4 missed points are the difference between a win and a loss in this league.
Keep an eye on the Mississippi State women's basketball score as they head into February. The back half of the SEC schedule includes Missouri and Georgia—games where State should be heavily favored. If they can split the next few games against ranked opponents and sweep the unranked ones, they’re looking at a very solid seed in the Big Dance.
The talent is there. The coaching is there. Now, it’s just about finishing the drill.
To stay completely updated on the team's progress, make sure to sync the official Hail State schedule to your calendar and watch the post-game media sessions with Sam Purcell. These sessions often reveal the tactical adjustments the team is making regarding their defensive rotations and "points in the paint" goals, which are the real drivers behind the final scores we see each week.