Mississippi State
21-13
#11 Florida State
29-5
Lady Bulldogs Fall In Sweet 16 To #10 FSU, 74-71; End Season With Best Finish Ever
March 28, 2010 | Women's Basketball
• Official Statistics
• Official Statistics (PDF)
• MSU Postgame Notes (PDF)
• Postgame Quotes
DAYTON, Ohio -- A desperation 3-point shot by Alexis Rack came up short, as did Mississippi State's upset bid in the Sweet Sixteen Round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. The seventh-seeded Lady Bulldogs fought valiantly before falling 74-71 to third-seeded Florida State Sunday afternoon at the University of Dayton Arena.
MSU caps the most successful season in school history with a final record of 21-13. In its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance, the Lady Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. Tuesday night, FSU (29-5) plays top-seeded Connecticut (36-0) for the championship of the Dayton Regional and a berth in this year's Final Four.
For MSU, the 21 victories mark the fourth most in the school history. The nine-member MSU senior class finishes with 78 total victories - the second-best four-year stretch in school history. The Lady Bulldog veterans bow out with four postseason appearances, including back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in school history.
"We have fought for the last couple of weeks," said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis, who caps her 15th season with an 11th postseason trip. "I am proud of the seniors as they have led and fought together, and they have rallied together to get to a point that has never been attained by a Bulldog program."
Sunday's contest was a classic. The score was tied 14 times and the lead changed hands 11 times. Ironically, the largest lead for both teams was six points - in the opening minute of the game and early in the second half for MSU and in the final minute for FSU.
The Lady Bulldogs scored the game's first six points of the contest. FSU quickly tied the contest and the teams entered into an intense struggle for the remainder of the opening 20 minutes. Rack rammed home a 3-point basket as the half expired, giving the Maroon and White a 34-32 halftime lead.
In the opening half, the Lady Bulldogs shot 50 percent, hitting 14 of 28 shots from the floor. MSU hit 6-of-12 three-point shots in the opening half, including three by Rack in the first 20 minutes.
The Lady Bulldogs held the upper hand most of the second half, even though MSU could not find the distance created in last week's 87-67 second-round upset of Ohio State.
A 3-point basket by Mary Kathryn Govero ran the Lady Bulldogs' advantage to 42-36 with 16:28 left. Over the next 90 seconds, FSU reeled off an 8-2 run for a 44-44 tie. An Alysha Harvin trey tied the contest for FSU.
Again, MSU sprinted to a 57-53 lead on a Govero baseline jumper with 8:57 left. FSU again tied things at 57-57. The lead changed hands four times over the next couple of minutes.
A pair of Harvin free throws gave FSU the lead for good at 68-66 with 1:40 left. The Lady Bulldogs missed five straight shots, including three on the next possession before turning the ball over.
Courtney Ward scored for FSU to run the advantage to 70-66. Then down 72-66, MSU had an unusual five-point possession. Tysheka Grimes hit a 3-point basket. While the shot was in the air, a foul was called on FSU. Armelie Lumanu hit both free throws, cutting the deficit to 72-71 with eight seconds left.
Ward hit a pair of free throws to ice the FSU victory. Rack's shot drew iron but did not fall as the clock expired.
"You have to give Florida State credit, they are a quick basketball team," said Fanning-Otis. "They had some good looks at the basket late. A couple of offensive boards were key to them. I think it was a good basketball game. Both teams fought hard."
The Lady Bulldogs hit 27 of 65 shots from the field (41.5 percent), 10 of 24 shots from 3-point range (41.7 percent) and 7 of 11 shots from the foul line (83.3 percent). The Seminoles hit 29 of 57 shots from the field (50.9 percent), 6 of 18 shots from 3-point range (33.3 percent) and 10 of 12 shots from the foul line (83.3 percent).
MSU held a 38-33 rebounding advantage. The Lady Bulldogs had 21 assists and 14 turnovers, while the Seminoles had 20 assists and 14 turnovers.
Chanel Mokango paced MSU with 20 points before fouling out in the game's final half-minute. Govero hit five 3-point baskets and finished with 19 points. Rack had 13 points, while Lumanu had 11 points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Both Rack and Lumanu dished out six assists, while Mokango had four blocked shots.
With her three 3-point baskets, Rack finishes as the Southeastern Conference's all-time leader with 340 made 3-point baskets. The senior guard from Franklin, La., finishes with 1,756 career points - good for third all-time in school history.
Harvin led FSU with 21 points. Ward followed with 14 points, while Jacinta Monroe scored 11 points. Alexa Deluzio and Cierra Bravard were each in double figures with 10 points apiece.
