Mississippi State Women's Basketball Team Falls to Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament

The Bulldogs' chance for a spot in the NCAA Tournament is possibly slipping out of sight.

The Mississippi State women’s basketball team fell to No. 13 seed Texas A&M 79-72 Thursday night in the second round of the SEC Tournament.

Here are three takeaways from the tightly contested game against the Aggies.

1. Despite foul trouble, Jessika Carter shines for the Bulldogs

Forward Jessika Carter put up 18 game-high points for the Bulldogs, 10 of which she secured in the first half in the nine minutes she was on the court.

The Bulldogs totaled 23 personal fouls throughout the game, which gave the Aggies extra opportunities to get points on the board. However, the Aggies dropped the ball going only 47.1% from the free-throw line.

Despite Carter’s four personal fouls, she stepped up offensively for the Bulldogs. She went 6-of-7 on free throws while the team averaged an impressive 81.5% from the foul line.

Although Carter only played 20 minutes of the game, she was able to be a powerhouse for the Bulldogs and secure the highest number of points she has ever scored in an SEC Tournament game.

2. The Bulldogs are still hoping for a shot in March Madness

The Bulldogs entered the tournament as a projected No.9 seed from ESPN’s March Madness projections, but the possibility of Mississippi State even making it to the big dance lowered after a tough loss in Greenville, South Carolina.

Even with the loss against the Aggies, the Bulldogs and head coach Sam Purcell remain with high hopes that their season is far from over.

Purcell and the team will be waiting eagerly until Sunday to hear about NCAA Tournament selections.

“This is a team and I know there’s hurting, we all are, but again we’re gonna give credit to Texas A&M,” Purcell said. “We’ll get back in the gym and wait for our fate on Selection Sunday.”

3. The Aggies took the Dawgs for a walk

The Bulldogs held the lead by 10 points near the end of the first quarter; however, the Aggies quickly shaved down the score gap as the quarter ended 25-19.

The Aggies secured a 19-0 run against the Bulldogs as the first half concluded, leaving Mississippi State in the dust by seven points.

MSU refused to throw in the towel and tried hard to get the ball back in their court. The game came down to the last few possessions, and the Aggies held tight to their winning stride.

Head coach Sam Purcell and his Bulldogs knew they were taking on a tough team, but they did not expect for it to end like this.

“We knew coming into this game that it was going to be an absolute battle for four quarters. I love the start from my team, we’re up 25-19, but that second quarter was the game,” Purcell said. “In the end, we fought like no other, but it just wasn’t enough.”