Campbell provides Bulldogs valuable minutes during wiin

Teaira McCowan was in foul trouble.

With 5:36 remaining in Sunday's first quarter against the Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State's starting center picked up her second foul.

Coach Vic Schaefer had no choice at that point, but to pull his 6-7 junior Bulldog and put in Zion Campbell.

It was obvious that McCowan was not going to see the court again any time soon because of picking up two early fouls in the game, so Campbell had to eat up some minutes.

That's exactly what she did.

Campbell played 23 minutes and enabled MSU to survive without McCowan for a long stretch of the 69-49 win at the Pavilion at Ole Miss.

Even though Campbell fouled out herself in the third quarter, it was the time that she spent on the floor that were valuable for the Bulldogs. She kept the problem of McCowan being in foul trouble from becoming worse.

"She gave us exactly what we needed," Schaefer said. “I was pleased with what we got from her in that situation. I thought she was spectacular really."

The numbers were impressive for Campbell. She provided MSU with four points, four rebounds, one block and one steal with one turnover.

Campbell said she just wanted to do what was asked when her number was called.

“I just tried to do what they needed me to do – like defend the five player from getting open, easy looks, get back and run the floor," Campbell said. "I’m just trying to do what we’ve been working on in practice. I got a couple of fouls on the hedge so I’ve got to work on that."

It was Campbell's second-most minutes played in a season. She played 25 minutes in the season-opener for the Bulldogs against Georgia State.

Schaefer said it's a credit to Campbell to make a difference in a game when she really hasn't been in the main rotation in practice.

“That’s a kid who doesn’t get a lot of reps in practice," Schaefer said. "She comes in and plays her tail off. She’s out there denying, fronting the post and making them throw it out of bounds. She doesn’t get to go through a lot of stuff.

“She’s doing things right because up here (in her mind), she’s ready. She understands and playing with her feet."

As MSU hits the stretch run of the season, Campbell could be counted upon heavily in the post if fouls pile up for McCowan again.

Schaefer won't hesitate to go with Campbell again in the future.

“I think there is no question that Zion showed (Sunday) she can play some big minutes," Schaefer said.