Duel in the Desert Rebel Division MVP Victoria Vivians helped Mississippi State remain No. 5 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
Women's Hoops Stays No. 5 In Christmas Day AP Poll
December 25, 2017 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – For Christmas, the Mississippi State women's basketball team received another week at No. 5 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
After wrapping the pre-Christmas portion of its slate 13-0, Vic Schaefer's squad claimed its 63rd-straight week in the poll, the sixth-longest active streak in the country after Stanford fell out. The Bulldogs' 27-consecutive weeks in the Top 10 rates fifth nationally.
The Bulldogs earned the Top 5 ranking after knocking off host UNLV and No. 22 Syracuse to win the Rebel Division of the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas.
Victoria Vivians paced the Bulldogs in Las Vegas, averaging 24.0 points and 7.5 rebounds to claim MVP honors of the Rebel Division. Vivians scored 22 points in the opener against the host Lady Rebels before knocking down 26 points against Syracuse the following day.
In the tournament finale, Vivians became the third MSU player to reach 2,000-career points.
Teaira McCowan also entered the Christmas break on a solid note, notching her eighth and ninth double-doubles of the season while tallying 22.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in the two games.
Against UNLV, McCowan collected her third 30-point game of the season as she put in 31 points to go with 15 rebounds. Against Syracuse, the Brenham, Texas, native grabbed 13 boards while adding 14 points.
The Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum on Dec. 28 to wrap the non-conference slate against Mississippi Valley State in a 7 p.m. tip.
The contest will be Dollar Night, with fans able to purchase tickets $1 tickets in advance at www.hailstate.com/tickets. Dollar hot dogs will also be available for purchase at the game while supplies last.
Associated Press Top 25 Poll – December 25, 2017
After wrapping the pre-Christmas portion of its slate 13-0, Vic Schaefer's squad claimed its 63rd-straight week in the poll, the sixth-longest active streak in the country after Stanford fell out. The Bulldogs' 27-consecutive weeks in the Top 10 rates fifth nationally.
The Bulldogs earned the Top 5 ranking after knocking off host UNLV and No. 22 Syracuse to win the Rebel Division of the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas.
Victoria Vivians paced the Bulldogs in Las Vegas, averaging 24.0 points and 7.5 rebounds to claim MVP honors of the Rebel Division. Vivians scored 22 points in the opener against the host Lady Rebels before knocking down 26 points against Syracuse the following day.
In the tournament finale, Vivians became the third MSU player to reach 2,000-career points.
Teaira McCowan also entered the Christmas break on a solid note, notching her eighth and ninth double-doubles of the season while tallying 22.5 points and 14.0 rebounds in the two games.
Against UNLV, McCowan collected her third 30-point game of the season as she put in 31 points to go with 15 rebounds. Against Syracuse, the Brenham, Texas, native grabbed 13 boards while adding 14 points.
The Bulldogs return to Humphrey Coliseum on Dec. 28 to wrap the non-conference slate against Mississippi Valley State in a 7 p.m. tip.
The contest will be Dollar Night, with fans able to purchase tickets $1 tickets in advance at www.hailstate.com/tickets. Dollar hot dogs will also be available for purchase at the game while supplies last.
Associated Press Top 25 Poll – December 25, 2017
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | POINTS | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uconn (32) | 10-0 | 800 | 1 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | 11-1 | 748 | 2 |
| 3 | Louisville | 14-0 | 740 | 3 |
| 4 | South Carolina | 11-1 | 687 | 4 |
| 5 | Mississippi State | 13-0 | 674 | 5 |
| 6 | Baylor | 10-1 | 628 | 6 |
| 7 | Tennessee | 12-0 | 621 | 7 |
| 8 | Texas | 9-1 | 589 | 8 |
| 9 | West Virginia | 12-0 | 508 | 9 |
| 10 | Oregon | 11-2 | 498 | 10 |
| 11 | UCLA | 9-2 | 463 | 11 |
| 12 | Ohio State | 11-2 | 440 | 12 |
| 13 | Florida State | 11-1 | 413 | 13 |
| 14 | Duke | 10-2 | 398 | 14 |
| 15 | Maryland | 11-2 | 369 | 15 |
| 16 | Missouri | 12-1 | 319 | 16 |
| 17 | Oregon State | 9-2 | 274 | 17 |
| 18 | Villanova | 10-0 | 236 | 20 |
| 19 | Green Bay | 10-1 | 194 | 21 |
| 20 | California | 9-2 | 159 | 24 |
| 21 | Michigan | 11-2 | 154 | 23 |
| 22 | Texas A&M | 10-3 | 140 | 19 |
| 23 | Iowa | 12-1 | 101 | 25 |
| 24 | Oklahoma State | 9-2 | 91 | NR |
| 25 | South Florida | 10-3 | 39 | 22 |
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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