Mississippi State signee Myah Taylor delighted by win over UConn

article from Commercial Appeal

Myah Taylor got her workout in Friday night.

The Gatorade player of the year from state champion Olive Branch was one of the many who tuned in to watch Mississippi State end UConn's 111-game winning streak in the women's Final Four. And Taylor had more of a rooting interest than most; she'll be a freshman on the Bulldogs next season.

"I jumped on the bed," she said of her reaction to Morgan William's buzzer-beating winner in overtime.

"I ran about 10 laps around the house. I could of gone through the TV. Everybody at my house just went crazy."

Indeed, just about everyone outside of the Northeast went wild after the Bulldogs' 66-64 overtime victory ended the longest winning streak in college sports history and propelled the Bulldogs into Sunday's 5 p.m. title game against SEC rival South Carolina, which eliminated Stanford.

"It was very exciting, coming from last year (losing to by 60 to the Huskies in the Sweet 16) to this year," Taylor said. "I think their tactic was to attack, to hit UConn in the mouth early and show that they were a different team, that they weren't scared."

Taylor was especially excited for William, who finished with 13 points and six assists. The two-time Commercial Appeal player of the year said William has served as a big sister of sorts as she prepares for life at the college level.

"She's watched some of my games, given me pointers," Taylor said. "She's a wonderful person with a big heart and I think everyone can see that now."

Throughout the season, there had been plenty of national debate about whether the Huskies' streak was a good thing or a bad thing for women's basketball as a whole. Taylor sends State's victory sends a clear message.

"I think it gives a lot of teams hope," she said. "Why not us, too? It's like (UConn coach) Geno (Auriemma) said, he knew theur time to lose was coming. I'm just really excited it was Mississippi State (that ended the streak)."