Mississippi State Upsets No. 15 Tennessee Women In 77-62 Win
#Mississippi State basketball#Tennessee Lady Vols#Kharyssa Richardson#SEC women's basketball#NCAA upset#Bulldogs vs Volunteers#Trayanna Crisp#Talaysia Cooper
📌 Key Takeaways
Kharyssa Richardson led Mississippi State with 21 points, shooting an efficient 81% from the field.
The victory ended Tennessee's seven-game winning streak and handed them their first SEC loss of the season.
Mississippi State dominated the glass, out-rebounding Tennessee 50-31 despite both teams being top-20 rebounding programs.
The Bulldogs utilized a massive 20-3 scoring run across the end of the second and start of the third quarters to take control.
📖 Full Retelling
In a significant Southeastern Conference (SEC) shakeup, the Mississippi State Bulldogs secured a commanding 77-62 upset victory over the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers on Thursday night. The win marks a major milestone for the Bulldogs, representing their second victory over a ranked opponent this season and avenging a previous 90-80 loss to Tennessee earlier in January. The loss was particularly stinging for the Volunteers, as it snapped their impressive seven-game winning streak and ended their status as the final remaining undefeated team in SEC conference play.
The Bulldogs' offensive surge was spearheaded by Kharyssa Richardson, who delivered an incredibly efficient performance. Richardson finished with 21 points, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor; notably, she scored 16 of those points in the second half to help seal the win. Support came from a well-rounded roster, with Trayanna Crisp contributing 15 points and three steals, while Madison Francis and Favour Nwaedozi both recorded double-doubles, illustrating Mississippi State's dominance in the paint and on the glass.
The game turned on a pivotal momentum shift late in the second quarter. With the score tied at 26-26 and just over two minutes remaining in the half, Mississippi State ignited a 9-0 run, highlighted by two critical three-pointers from Crisp. They carried this energy into the third quarter with an 11-3 opening burst, stretching their lead to 14 points. Tennessee struggled to recover from this offensive onslaught, and the Bulldogs' lead eventually ballooned to 20 points, never dropping back into single digits for the remainder of the contest.
Statistically, Mississippi State fundamentally outperformed Tennessee in areas where the Volunteers usually excel. Despite both teams being ranked nationally in rebounding, the Bulldogs dominated the glass with a 50-31 rebounding advantage. Furthermore, Mississippi State's transition game was lethal, outscoring the Volunteers 35-11 in fast-break points. While Talaysia Cooper led Tennessee with 19 points, the team could not overcome the Bulldogs' physical style of play. Following this upset, Mississippi State will look to build momentum against Missouri, while Tennessee faces a daunting recovery task as they travel to face No. 1 UConn.
🐦 Character Reactions (Tweets)
Quantum Referee
Tennessee’s undefeated SEC streak has been deleted from the primary timeline. Mississippi State didn't just win; they rewrote the physics of the paint.
Richardson's Ghost
Kharyssa Richardson shooting 9-of-11 is statistically improbable in 98% of simulated universes. The 2% where it happens involve a heavy dose of Bulldog dominance.
The SEC Glitch
Tennessee went into the locker room at 26-26 and emerged into a different dimension where Mississippi State forgot how to miss. Welcome to the Synchronization Point.
Glass Cleaner 9000
Log analysis: Tennessee's 'nationally ranked rebounding' has been overwritten by Bulldog.exe. Error 50-31: Vol recovery not found.
Void Sports Network
Losing a winning streak and your undefeated status in one night? That’s not an upset, it’s a total existential recalibration. Good luck at UConn, Tennessee.
Orbiting Alumnus
35 fast-break points? Mississippi State wasn't running; they were warping through the defense. The speed of light is 299,792,458 m/s, or roughly the pace of Trayanna Crisp.
💬 Character Dialogue
squidward:Oh, wonderful. Another group of people exhausting themselves over a ball just to 'upset' someone else's peace of mind.
wednesday:They call it an 'upset' because it caused a seven-game winning streak to die. I find the visual of a collapsing dynasty quite refreshing.
ellie:Man, Tennessee got hit harder than a Bloater in a basement! What do you call a basketball team that can’t catch its breath? Out of court! Ha!
squidward:That pun was more painful than watching the Volunteers lose their rebounding advantage.
wednesday:Precisely. Now Tennessee faces UConn, which is just a fancy way of saying they are walking into their own funeral.
🏷️ Themes
College Basketball, SEC Sports, Upset Victory
📚 Related People & Topics
Tennessee Volunteers
University of Tennessee athletic teams
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the 20 male and female varsity intercollegiate athletics programs that represent the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Volunteers compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as a member of the Southe...