Vivians, William Named To Naismith Preseason Watch List
November 30, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State juniors Victoria Vivians and Morgan William have been named to the Naismith Trophy Women's College Player of the Year Preseason Watch List, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday.
The duo was named to the Top 50 list after pacing MSU to a 7-0 start and No. 6 national ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.
Vivians, a Carthage, Miss., native, paces the Bulldogs in scoring with 14.4 ppg. The Preseason First Team All-SEC selection has tallied double figures in five of the Bulldogs' games, including a season-high 26 in the first half of MSU's Maine Tipoff Tournament championship win against the host Black Bears.
She earned MVP honors of that tournament and also last weekend's Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii, where she tallied 17 points in State's win against previously-undefeated Oregon.
Before heading to Honolulu, Vivians knocked down 19 points as the Bulldogs opened the home slate with a 79-68 victory against then-No. 8 Texas.
She has scored 1,222 points in her career, 11th-most in MSU history, fifth among active SEC players and third among current juniors in NCAA Division I.
Vivians stands second among active league players with 160 made 3-pointers and fifth in field goals with 444. She has also tallied 117-career steals, seventh among current SEC players.
William has jumped out to a stellar start for the Bulldogs, averaging 10.1 ppg and an SEC ninth-best 3.7 assists per contest. She is also tied for 15th in the league in steals with 2.0 per contest while rating fourth at the free-throw line, making 88.2 percent.
The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a game-high 23 points in the Bulldogs' win against Texas, tying a career best with 13 free throws. She also scored 14 points in State's win against Oregon after opening the year with 12 points against Villanova.
William is No. 2 among active SEC players in career assists with 325, and her 84.7 career free-throw percentage not only ranks first in MSU annals but is second in the nation among current Division I players.
Vivians, William and their MSU teammates return to action Saturday, traveling to Iowa State for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The 1:30 p.m. CT tip will be broadcast regionally on Fox Sports Net.
The duo was named to the Top 50 list after pacing MSU to a 7-0 start and No. 6 national ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls.
Vivians, a Carthage, Miss., native, paces the Bulldogs in scoring with 14.4 ppg. The Preseason First Team All-SEC selection has tallied double figures in five of the Bulldogs' games, including a season-high 26 in the first half of MSU's Maine Tipoff Tournament championship win against the host Black Bears.
She earned MVP honors of that tournament and also last weekend's Rainbow Wahine Showdown in Hawaii, where she tallied 17 points in State's win against previously-undefeated Oregon.
Before heading to Honolulu, Vivians knocked down 19 points as the Bulldogs opened the home slate with a 79-68 victory against then-No. 8 Texas.
She has scored 1,222 points in her career, 11th-most in MSU history, fifth among active SEC players and third among current juniors in NCAA Division I.
Vivians stands second among active league players with 160 made 3-pointers and fifth in field goals with 444. She has also tallied 117-career steals, seventh among current SEC players.
William has jumped out to a stellar start for the Bulldogs, averaging 10.1 ppg and an SEC ninth-best 3.7 assists per contest. She is also tied for 15th in the league in steals with 2.0 per contest while rating fourth at the free-throw line, making 88.2 percent.
The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a game-high 23 points in the Bulldogs' win against Texas, tying a career best with 13 free throws. She also scored 14 points in State's win against Oregon after opening the year with 12 points against Villanova.
William is No. 2 among active SEC players in career assists with 325, and her 84.7 career free-throw percentage not only ranks first in MSU annals but is second in the nation among current Division I players.
Vivians, William and their MSU teammates return to action Saturday, traveling to Iowa State for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The 1:30 p.m. CT tip will be broadcast regionally on Fox Sports Net.
Players Mentioned
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