By Elizabeth Keen
Mississippi State Athletics

STARKVILLE — Behind eight fourth-quarter points from center Jessika Carter, Mississippi State pushed ahead in the final minutes to defeat TCU, 68-61, in the second round of the Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament on Sunday.

Mississippi State (23-11) advanced to the WBIT quarterfinals on Thursday against the winner of Monday’s second-round game between Belmont and Penn State. Mississippi State will play at home if Belmont wins, and be on the road if Penn State wins.

Carter made the fourth quarter her own Sunday, by scoring eight of the Bulldogs’ 22 points. She also drew a crucial charge in a tie game with just over three minutes remaining and added a pair of free throws that pushed the Bulldogs ahead 60-56 with 2:11 left.

TCU (21-12) took a 56-54 lead on a 3-pointer by Tara Manumaleuga with 4:58 remaining, then went more than four minutes without a field goal as Mississippi State pulled ahead. Una Jovanovic’s 3-pointer with 52 seconds to go was TCU’s only field goal down the stretch.

Carter totaled 17 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while guard Lauren Park-Lane added eight points and eight assists.

Senior guard Jerkaila Jordan added 15 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Jordan raced out to a quick start with 11 points, four rebounds and three steals in the first half as Mississippi State led 36-28 at halftime.

Madison Conner led TCU with 17 points, and Sedona Prince had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Manumaleuga scored 10 points.