Bulldogs Add Another First With No. 6 Ranking In USA Today Poll
January 05, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A day after recording the program's best Associated Press Poll ranking at No. 7, Mississippi State women's basketball claimed another first as it jumped to No. 6 in this week's USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Bulldogs vaulted two places after claiming wins against No. 17 South Florida and Florida to improve to 14-1 overall, 1-0 in SEC play.
Vic Schaefer's squad won its league opener for the second-straight year, the first time the Bulldogs have accomplished the feat since the 1992 and 1993 seasons.
Sophomores Victoria Vivians and Morgan William helped guide MSU to becoming the second-highest ranked team in the league. Vivians averaged 18.5 points against USF and the Gators, while William scored at an 18.0 clip.
Vivians scored 23 points against USF in the SEC/AAC Challenge before claiming her 14th-straight game in double figures with 14 against Florida. William tallied an SEC personal-best 21 in Sunday's SEC opener after finishing with 15 points against the Bulls.
MSU follows South Carolina, who remained No. 2. Kentucky slipped two places to No. 9 after falling at Auburn, State's opponent in Thursday's SEC home opener.
Texas A&M follows the Wildcats at No. 10, just ahead of Tennessee, who moved up five spots to No. 11.
Thursday's contest against the Tigers tips at 7:30 p.m. and will be part of the SEC Network's whip-around coverage. The network will alternate between games, while each contest will be shown in its entirety online on the SEC Network +.
Individual game tickets cost $5 for adults, while youth 17 and under get in free. MSU students also get free admission with a valid student ID.
Bulldog fans can also save money by purchasing $35 general admission season tickets prior to Thursday's contest. Fans can order them online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by calling 1-888-GO-DAWGS.
USA Today Coaches Poll - January 5, 2016
| RK | TEAM | RECORD | PTS |
| 1 | Connecticut (32) | 11-0 | 800 |
| 2 | South Carolina | 13-0 | 768 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | 13-1 | 732 |
| 4 | Texas | 13-0 | 703 |
| 5 | Ohio State | 10-3 | 625 |
| 6 | Mississippi State | 14-1 | 621 |
| 7 | Baylor | 14-1 | 620 |
| 8 | Maryland | 12-2 | 602 |
| 9 | Kentucky | 11-1 | 516 |
| 10 | Texas A&M | 11-3 | 500 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 10-3 | 426 |
| 12 | Oregon State | 10-3 | 417 |
| 13 | Stanford | 11-3 | 363 |
| 14 | Arizona State | 11-3 | 359 |
| 15 | Florida State | 10-4 | 288 |
| 16 | Duke | 11-4 | 281 |
| 17 | Northwestern | 12-2 | 235 |
| 18 | South Florida | 8-3 | 233 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 10-3 | 205 |
| 20 | Seton Hall | 13-1 | 201 |
| 21 | UCLA | 11-3 | 181 |
| 22 | Michigan State | 10-3 | 127 |
| 23 | Iowa | 12-2 | 116 |
| 24 | DePaul | 10-5 | 110 |
| 25 | Syracuse | 11-3 | 92 |
Others receiving votes: California (9-4) 74; Miami (Fla.) (13-2) 62; Missouri (13-1) 40; Virginia Tech (13-1) 33; Duquesne (13-1) 14; Georgia (12-2) 14; St. John's (11-3) 10; Princeton (11-3) 9; Florida (10-4) 8; Louisville (10-5) 8; Auburn (11-3) 6; Boston College (11-2) 1.
