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Alabama guard Jasmine Robinson (3) has her shot blocked by Mississippi State forward Sherise Williams (5) during the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament, Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Duluth, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Crimson Tide (13-17) won its first SEC tournament game since 2005. Alabama, the lowest seed at No. 13, will face fifth-seeded South Carolina on Thursday.
Darriel Gaynor finished with a team-high eight points for Mississippi State (13-17) as Alabama used a tight zone defense to double-team the ball-handlers and force the 12th-seeded Bulldogs to shoot 22.6 percent, their second-worst performance this season.
Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer called a 30-second timeout with 15:32 remaining after Alabama took a 12-point lead when Gaynor's turnover led to a layup by Perkins.
Schaefer looked exasperated just a couple of seconds later as Kendra Grant's turnover led to a jumper by Kaneisha Horn.
Mississippi State had just 10 assists with 20 turnovers.