DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – The University of Dayton women's basketball team opened the Daytona Beach Invitational Thanksgiving Day with a tough 65-54 loss to Mississippi State University.

The Flyers (3-2) battled back in the third, but was unable to catch the undefeated Bulldogs (5-0).

KEY MOMENT
Start of 4^th – Dayton closed the gap to just two points in the beginning of the fourth, but MSU answered with a 9 -0 run to push the margin back to double-digits.

1^st Quarter: Dayton 14, Mississippi St. 16

• The Flyers were the first to strike with a layup from senior Kyla Whitehead to put Dayton on the board early.
• Dayton jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first three minutes, holding MSU scoreless until the 6:19 mark.
• The Bulldogs answered with a 9-0 run over 1:43 to take the lead midway through the first.
• At the media break, Dayton trailed just 12-11 despite the MSU surge.
• The two teams traded buckets down the stretch and the Flyers were down two after 10 minutes.

2^nd Quarter: Dayton 23, Mississippi St. 31

• Mississippi St. added to its lead in the first 2:30 and pulled ahead 21-16. The Bulldogs were 3-of-3 while the Flyers were 0-for-5.
• Dayton was forced to call a timeout with 5:19 to play as MSU led 27-17, the biggest margin of the game to that point.
• The Flyers managed to close the gap to eight at 31-23 at the end of the first half while holding the Bulldogs to 1-for-7 down the stretch.
• Sophomore Makira Cook led UD with 10 points while Whitehead and graduate student Erin Whalen had six rebounds each.

3^rd Quarter: Dayton 41, Mississippi St. 45

• The Flyers and Bulldogs traded buckets early in the second half, both teams being aggressive out of the lockeroom.
• Dayton held MSU for a three-plus minute stretch without a field goal.
• Midway through the quarter, a three by Cook closed the gap to 38-32 as the Flyers looked to gain momentum.
• The Bulldogs were forced to call a timeout with 2:03 to play as the Flyers pulled within four, 40-36.
• Graduate student Araion Bradshaw nailed a crucial three in the final minute to keep the Bulldogs from going on a run of their own.

4^th Quarter: Dayton 54, Mississippi St. 65

• UD got a layup from junior Mariah Perez right out of the gate and made it a two-point game.
• MSU then went on a 7-0 run over the next 48 seconds, forcing a Dayton timeout with 8:30 to play.
• Neither team was able to get a defensive stop the next two minutes with the teams trading baskets once again.
• With just over two minutes to go in regulation, Cook hit an NBA-range three to make it a six-point game at 60-54.
• In the end, the Flyers were unable to make a complete comeback and fell to the Bulldogs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
16 – Makira Cook had a team-high 16 points, including three three pointers.
12 and 9 – Erin Whalen added 12 points and nine rebounds, just shy of her second double-double of the season.
13.3% - Dayton held MSU to just 13.3 percent from the three point line.
9 to 3 – The Flyers recorded one block and two steals while the Bulldogs had five blocks and four steals.

KEY STAT
13 to 7 – The Bulldogs hit six more free throws, going to the line 20 times, while the Flyers attempted 12 free throws.

UP NEXT
Dayton will finish up the Dayton Beach Invitational Friday, Nov. 26 at 2:15 p.m. against Illinois.