Mississippi State used an 18-2 run to close out an 87-61 win in the first round of the Women's NIT over South Alabama. With 8:15 to go in the game, State's Blessing Chekwa, making her first collegiate start, hit a jumper to give MSU a 70-54 lead.

"We picked up the defensive intensity in the second half," said head coach Sharon Fanning. "We wanted to keep them under 40 percent."

Mississippi State took its largest lead of the game of 30 points with 1:55 left to go on a jumper by LaToya Thomas. State used several runs in the game to help knock off the Jaguars in the first round.

State went on an early 25-7 run with 8:55 left to go in the first half to open up an early lead and never looked back. The Lady Bulldogs took a 13-point lead in at the half, 45-32, off of 12-second chance points in the opening stanza.

Mississippi State is now 26-3 in home openers and 18-11 in season openers. Senior guard Renea Jones recorded a career-high of 14 points. Freshman Mamie McKinney had key contributions recording six rebounds in her first look in the Maroon and White.

LaToya Thomas led all scores with 26 points and Tan White recorded a double-double, adding 23 points and led the team with 10 rebounds.

Mississippi State will host the Tulsa Golden Hurricane Sunday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the WNIT at Humphrey Coliseum. Tulsa knocked off Southwest Missouri State 81-80 to advance.