No. 22 Mississippi State escapes Louisiana Tech 81-77

Updated: Dec 11, 2015, 10:37 pm

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Kendra Grant's rebound and free throw with 1:05 left- her only point of the game -- broke a tie, and Ketara Chapel's jumper moments later lifted No. 22 Mississippi State over Louisiana Tech 81-77 on Thursday.

Chapel blocked Whitney Frazier's jumper with 51 seconds left and after Dominique Dillingham's steal -- one of her five in the game -- Martha Alwal fed Chapel for the jumper that made it 80-77 with 20 seconds left. Morgan William made 1 of 2 from the line with 1 second left for the final margin.

Louisiana Tech (3-4) led 40-33 at intermission and the second half was hotly contested throughout. The Lady Techsters were paced by Kelia Shelton's 31 points and Chrisstasia Walter added 10 points.

No. 22 Mississippi State (9-0) was led by Victoria Vivians' 20 points. Chapel finished with 13 points and Chinwe Okorie had 11 points and 14 boards.