STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State women’s basketball team suffered a 71-56 defeat at the hands of the Florida Gators on Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum.
The Bulldogs struggled offensively, shooting below 40 percent from the field and connecting on only one of their 12 three-point attempts. Despite the team’s overall shooting woes, freshman Madison Francis provided a significant spark, scoring 20 points – her fourth game this season reaching the 20-point mark.
Francis also secured a game-high 13 rebounds, tying her career best, and recorded a double-double – her seventh of the season, leading all Southeastern Conference freshmen. Her impact extended beyond scoring and rebounding, as she blocked three Gator shot attempts, marking the 15th game this season in which she has registered three or more blocks. Francis also tallied three steals, a feat she has now accomplished five times this season.
The Gators took control of the game early, leading 24-14 after the first quarter and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the remainder of the contest. Florida finished the game shooting 46.4 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line.
Mississippi State will look to rebound from this loss when they travel to Texas to face the fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
Fans can find the latest information on Mississippi State women’s basketball by visiting HailState.com. The program is also active on social media platforms, including X, Facebook, and Instagram, under the handle ‘HailStateWBK’.
The loss drops Mississippi State to 18-9 overall and 5-8 in SEC play, while Florida improves to 16-12 with a 4-9 conference record.
