19-0! No. 4 MSU Downs Rebels For Best Start In Program History

Monday, January 16

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

19-0 (5-0SEC)

Ole Miss

13-5 (2-3SEC)

Ole Miss

Mississippi State

19-0! No. 4 MSU Downs Rebels For Best Start In Program History

January 16, 2017 | Women's Basketball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – A fast start and a near-capacity crowd helped lift the No. 4 Mississippi State women's basketball team to another school record Monday night.

Playing before a crowd of 8,840 (second-largest in school history and the second-largest for a women's basketball game in state history) and a national television audience, MSU knocked off in-state rival Ole Miss 73-62 at Humphrey Coliseum.

The victory gives MSU a school-record 19^th straight victory to start the season. The Bulldogs remain one of two undefeated teams in the nation, while moving to 5-0 in conference play for the first time. Ole Miss fell to 13-5 and 2-3.

The Bulldogs have beaten the Rebels six straight times in the series and 10 in a row at the Hump.

"I'm really proud of my kids and proud of the crowd," MSU head coach Vic Schaefer said. "It was a tough basketball game. Credit to Ole Miss for playing hard for four quarters. We kind of struggled there in the end. Really proud of our kids. In the first half, they answered the bell and played really well."

Victoria Vivians led the Bulldogs with 23 points, her 13^th-straight game in double figures and sixth in the last seven games with 20-plus points. Dominique Dillingham added a season-high 16 points and Morgan William chipped in 14 points. Brenna Richardson just missed a double-double with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs were dominant defensively in the first quarter and that allowed the crowd to get loud and for the home team to build a good lead.

A 12-0 run pushed the early MSU advantage to 18-4 with 2:56 left in the opening quarter. Vivians hit a 3-pointer and William had a pair of baskets during the run.

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs and Rebels continued more of a defensive battle. Still, the hosts continued to lead. A 3-pointer by Dominique Dillingham pushed the lead to 36-19 with 1:43 left in the half.

MSU only shot 25 percent from the field in the second quarter but led 36-25 at halftime.

"We controlled the game," Schaefer said. "We forced 22 turnovers – 11 in each half. It was such a great atmosphere. That is how Mississippi State does women's basketball. It's not like that everywhere. There are 10 or 11 places in the nation like that."

The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 19 at 46-27 less than four minutes into the third quarter. After Ole Miss closed back within 11, Vivians answered with a back-breaking 3-point basket on the offensive end.

For the contest, the Bulldogs hit 24 of 62 shots from the field (38.7 percent), 7 of 15 shots from 3-point range (46.7 percent) and 18 of 21 shots from the foul line (85.7 percent). The Rebels hit 23 of 51 shots from the field (45.1 percent), 3 of 9 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 13 of 16 shots from the foul line (81.3 percent).

MSU held a 35-32 rebounding advantage. The Bulldogs had 10 assists and 11 turnovers, while the Rebels had nine assists and 22 turnovers.

Ole Miss received 16 points from Shandricka Sessom and 14 points from Alissa Alston. Sessom also had a team-high nine rebounds.

Mississippi State returns to the road for a Thursday night contest Alabama. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide meet at 7 p.m. with the game available on SEC Network +.