Latest news with #MadinaOkot
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How South Carolina impressed transfer Madina Okot even when Dawn Staley's team was losing
COLUMBIA — When South Carolina women's basketball faced Mississippi State in Starkville on Jan. 5, the Gamecocks found themselves down 22-13 after the opening quarter. At the time, Madina Okot, the Bulldogs' 6-foot-6 center, wasn't complaining. Advertisement South Carolina went on to recover and win 95-68, and what Okot, who has since transferred into coach Dawn Staley's program, remembers was her new team's ability to bounce back. "Very energic players," Okot recalls. "They play as a team. The general leadership on the court and how they handled pressure. We were up and they were able to control (the game)." Florida State's Ta'Niya Latson, who led the nation in 2024-25 with 25.2 points per game, was a huge get for Staley in the transfer portal. But Okot's presence in the post was something the Gamecocks really lacked last season. Okot played just one season at Mississippi State after spending two years playing for Zetech University in Kenya. As a junior, she started all 34 games and averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Advertisement South Carolina's leading rebounder last season was Chloe Kitts at 7.7 per game. Though she only started playing basketball in 2020, she's been watching former South Carolina stars like A'ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston in an attempt to improve her own personal skills. That was a reason why Okot was attracted to Columbia, knowing how Staley produced both those two WNBA icons, and other quality post players. "That has truly been a motivating factor to me because I feel like this program can produce good forward and centers," Okot said. "I feel like I can be one of them." Having been part of the Bulldogs' season that ended in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Okot is familiar with the SEC but South Carolina is a better opportunity for more competition, she added. Advertisement Okot was spotted downtown Columbia with forwards Adhel Tac and Maryam Dauda on April 19, three days before she announced on social media she had committed to the team. She said from the jump, everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. A lot of what Staley does is basketball related but Okot said it's not just basketball that Staley is assisting with. She said Staley's kindness and guidance off the court has been huge. "She's a very, very good coach," Okot said. "I just feel so good being around her. She knows how to talk to the players when you're frustrated, when you have good days and bad days, she knows how to talk players through that. For example me, I've been having issues maybe with communication because I'm from Africa and sometimes they'll be struggling to get my English. She has been making sure that they're getting that right." In terms of this season's starters, Staley could feel Okot is ready to start and have Kitts at the four with last year's leading scorer Joyce Edwards coming off the bench. Staley might also bring Okot off the bench and start Edwards with Kitts. Advertisement Tac is 6-5 but battled knee injuries her first two years with the program so bringing in Okot as a seasoned and traditional center is a huge gain for Staley. Last year, she scored in double figures 22 times out of 34 games. Her season rebounding average ranked fourth in the SEC, and that number rose to 10.1 per SEC game. After Ashlyn Watkins went down with an ACL tear, the Gamecocks suffered on the boards at times, something Okot can assist with until Watkins returns. THREE GAMECOCKS: What channel is FIBA AmeriCup today? Times, TV schedule, streaming to see Dawn Staley's players Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@ and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball: Madina Okot on Dawn Staley, transfer
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mississippi State women's basketball, Sam Purcell sign Nigerian forward Favour Nwaedozi
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State women's basketball coach Sam Purcell hinted on June 17 that one more player could be added to the roster for next season. That came true on June 30 with the Bulldogs announcing the addition of Nigerian forward Favour Nwaedozi. Measured at 6-foot-3, Nwaedozi moved to Japan in high school and began her college career there at Mukogawa Women's University. She played this spring in the Kansai Women's Spring Basketball Championship, where she averaged 26 points and 17 rebounds per game. Advertisement "Favour has a wow factor," Purcell said in a release. "She's a versatile post player that can score inside and outside. She's extremely skillful on the court and can defend the full length of the floor. Most importantly, I look forward to seeing our fans fall in love with her million-dollar personality." Nwaedozi will join a revamped Mississippi State roster that made the NCAA tournament second round but lost its top four scorers. MSU has added four transfers — guards Trayanna Crisp and Saniyah King, forward Kharyssa Richardson and center Faith Wylder — and Awa Fane from Panola College. It also has signed the No. 11 recruiting class, according to ESPN, with guard Jaylah Lampley and forwards Madison Francis and Nataliyah Gray. MSU found big success with an international player last season in starting center Madina Okot, who averaged 11.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 2024-25. However, she transferred to South Carolina after the season. Advertisement MORE: Blake Shapen reveals details about injury that ended Mississippi State QB's season after four games Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@ and follow him on X @sklarsam_. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State women's basketball adds Favour Nwaedozi of Nigeria
Associated Press
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
USC Trojans take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in second round
Mississippi State Bulldogs (22-11, 8-10 SEC) at USC Trojans (29-3, 18-2 Big Ten) BOTTOM LINE: No. 4 USC and Mississippi State play in the NCAA Tournament second round. The Trojans have gone 18-2 against Big Ten opponents, with an 11-1 record in non-conference play. USC scores 81.1 points and has outscored opponents by 22.3 points per game. The Bulldogs are 8-10 against SEC opponents. Mississippi State is fifth in the SEC with 25.8 defensive rebounds per game led by Madina Okot averaging 6.1. USC's average of 6.8 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.4 more made shots on average than the 6.4 per game Mississippi State gives up. Mississippi State scores 16.7 more points per game (75.5) than USC allows (58.8). TOP PERFORMERS: JuJu Watkins is scoring 24.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Trojans. Kiki Iriafen is averaging 18.8 points and nine rebounds over the last 10 games. Debreasha Powe is shooting 40.0% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulldogs, while averaging 8.6 points. Jerkaila Jordan is shooting 39.1% and averaging 14.6 points over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Trojans: 9-1, averaging 76.7 points, 38.2 rebounds, 16.3 assists, 9.6 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 40.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.1 points per game. Bulldogs: 6-4, averaging 71.4 points, 35.5 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 10.9 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 42.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 65.6 points. ___
Washington Post
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
March Madness: Mississippi State beats California 59-46 behind Okot's double-double
LOS ANGELES — 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.
CBS News
23-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
California falls to Mississippi State 59-46 in first round of March Madness
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. "I think what everyone just witnessed was our best defensive effort of the season," Bulldogs coach Sam Purcell said. The Bulldogs improved their shooting to 50% in the second half when they outscored the Bears 15-10 in the third and 18-17 in the fourth. They had 15 steals. "Physicality and rebounding wins us games. I don't think they were used to that," Russell said. "I definitely think our defense disrupted them." 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. The Bears were just 3 of 21 from 3-point range, with Twidale missing 6 of 7 and Ioanna Krimili missing 8 of 10. "There were just too many people who couldn't get into a groove and that meant we couldn't survive the turnovers and missed shots," Bears coach Charmin Smith said. 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. "Us not being able to score definitely set us back," Twidale said. "Most of us, it was the first time in tournament. I'm proud we were able to keep fighting to the end." 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. "I think we put Cal basketball back on the map," Smith said. The 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. The Bears committed 24 turnovers and got outscored 32-18 in the paint and 15-0 in bench points. Mississippi 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.
