March Madness: Mississippi State beats California 59-46 behind Okot's double-double
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Madina Okot had 14 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out late and ninth-seeded Mississippi State beat California 59-46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.
Eniya Russell added 14 points for the Bulldogs (22-11), who are back in March Madness for the first time in two years. They lost in the national title game in 2017 and 2018.
Michelle Onyiah led the eighth-seeded Golden Bears with 17 points and 15 rebounds despite four fouls. Lulu Twidale added 13 points before fouling out in the final seconds.
Cal's only lead was by one point in the first quarter, when the Bears managed just five points. They recovered to play the Bulldogs evenly in the second but trailed 26-19 at halftime.
The Bears (25-9) capped their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference by making the NCAAs for the first time since 2019, when current USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb was in charge.
Key momentThe Bears got within six in the third quarter only to see the Bulldogs close on a 9-3 run to lead 41-29 going into the fourth. Four players scored in the spurt.
Key statThe Bears committed 24 turnovers and got outscored 32-18 in the paint and 15-0 in bench points.
Up nextMississippi State will play JuJu Watkins and top-seeded USC in the second round on Monday at Galen Center. The Bulldogs last made the Sweet 16 in 2019.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here.
Topics
-
Ole Miss women get pair of double-doubles and roll to 83-65 March Madness win over Ball State
Starr Jacobs had 18 points and 11 rebounds, Kennedy Todd-Williams added 14 points with 11 boards and No. 5 seed Mississippi rolled to an 83-65 victory over 12th-seeded Ball State in the first round ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Latson scores 28 and Florida State tops George Mason 94-59 in the NCAA Tournament's first round
Ta'Niya Latson scored 28 points and sixth-seeded Florida State defeated George Mason on Saturday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Mikayla Timpson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Baylor vs. Mississippi State odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven computer
The SportsLine Projection Model has revealed its Baylor Bears vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs picks for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament on FridayCBS Sports - 2d -
Lidge, Southern beat Alcorn St. 64-44 in SWAC title game, clinch NCAA Tournament berth
Tionna Lidge scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds — the senior's first career double-double — to help No. 1 seed Southern beat Alcorn State 64-44 on Saturday night to win the Southwestern ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 15 -
Ayoka Lee returns as Kansas State beats Fairfield 85-41 in NCAA women's tournament
Ayoka Lee had 17 points and 10 rebounds in her return to the lineup, and fifth-seeded Kansas State beat Fairfield 85-41 on Friday in the first round of the NCAA women's tournament. Lee went 7 for ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Ayoka Lee returns as Kansas State women beat Fairfield 85-41 in NCAA women's tournament
Ayoka Lee had 17 points and 10 rebounds in her return to the lineup, and fifth-seeded Kansas State beat Fairfield 85-41 in the first round of the NCAA women’s tournamentABC News - 2d -
VanSlooten's double-double helps Michigan State oust Harvard 64-50 in women's NCAA tourney
Grace VanSlooten had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Michigan State beat Harvard 64-50 in the women’s NCAA TournamentABC News - 1d -
Lauren Betts, top-seeded UCLA push past Southern 84-46 in the Bruins' March Madness opener
Lauren Betts had 14 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots, and top-seeded UCLA kicked off its quest for its first Final Four appearance in the women's NCAA Tournament with a 84-46 victory ...Yahoo Sports - 2d -
How Mississippi State basketball's loss to Missouri impacts March Madness bracket predictions
Mississippi State basketball lost by 12 points to Missouri in the SEC tournament. Here's how it could impact the March Madness bracket.Yahoo Sports - Mar. 14
More from Yahoo Sports
-
New Zealand qualify for World Cup but Chris Wood injured
New Zealand reached the World Cup for only the third time with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia on Monday but lost Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood to injury.New Zealand have been to the World Cup ...Yahoo Sports - 1h -
F1 standings after Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s results in China wiped out
Hamilton and Leclerc were both disqualified after the Chinese Grand PrixYahoo Sports - 1h -
Why was Lewis Hamilton disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix?
Hamilton had crossed the line in sixth but later suffered a DQ along with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly of AlpineYahoo Sports - 1h -
What's next for Illinois basketball? Transfer portal, NBA, recruiting and more
Illinois basketball finished the 2024-25 season in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. What's next for the Illini? We take a lookYahoo Sports - 1h -
Hopewell boys basketball coach Mark D'Alessandris to resign after three seasons
After three seasons, Hopewell basketball head coach Mark D'Alessandris is set to resign from the position.Yahoo Sports - 1h
More in Sports
-
Juventus sack Motta, hire Tudor after heavy losses
Juventus have sacked manager Thiago Motta and appointed Igor Tudor, the Serie A club said on Sunday, following two consecutive heavy defeats.ESPN - 56m -
Henderson: Hired a van to watch England at Euros
Jordan Henderson has revealed that he drove to Germany in a van to watch England at last summer's European Championship final after missing out on a call-up.ESPN - 56m -
Marsch sent off during Canada win over USMNT
Canada coach Jesse Marsch was shown a direct red card during early in the second half of his team's 2-1 Concacaf Nations League third-place match win over the United States on Sunday.ESPN - 56m -
You da' Maignan: 'Difference' in goal, Mbappé says
France produced a great attacking performance to overturn a two-goal deficit against Croatia and level their Nations League tie on Sunday, but it was keeper Mike Maignan who stole the spotlight ...ESPN - 56m -
Ball boy hailed as hero as Germany oust Italy
Germany's 5-4 aggregate win over Italy on Sunday earned them a spot in the Nations League last four and also created an unlikely new hero: a rookie ball boy.ESPN - 56m