MSU No. 16 In AP Top 25; SEC Tournament Security Policy Set
February 29, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – When Mississippi State heads to Jacksonville, Florida, to begin postseason play on Friday, it will do so No. 16 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
The Bulldogs stayed at No. 16 in this week's ranking, its 35th-straight week in the poll, after wrapping the regular season with three-straight wins to finish 24-6 overall and 11-5 in SEC play.
Mississippi State won for the third-time ever at Vanderbilt, 66-61, on Thursday before sending senior Sherise Williams out on a high note with a 61-52 victory against Alabama on Sunday.
MSU's 24 wins tied for the second most in program history, while Vic Schaefer's squad matched last season's school record for league wins with 11. The Bulldogs claimed the best SEC finish in program history, tying Texas A&M for second.
State earned the third seed in this week's SEC Tournament and meets either Vanderbilt, Ole Miss or Georgia in Friday's quarterfinal. Tip for that contest is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.
Mississippi State is one of five league teams bringing an AP ranking to Jacksonville. South Carolina remains the league's highest-ranked team at No. 3.
Kentucky climbed two spots to No. 13 with Sunday's win against the Aggies, who fell two places to No. 15.
Florida moved back into the poll at No. 25 while Missouri fell out of the ranking.
Security Policy Set For SEC Women's Basketball Tournament
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Fans attending the 2016 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament in Jacksonville this week should be mindful of the security policies for the event at Veterans Memorial Arena.
All guests will be subject to search and all bags will also be searched. The arena currently has a size limit on bags of 12" x 12" x 12.” Bags that are medically necessary and diaper bags of any size are permitted after undergoing a search. Backpacks and coolers are NOT permitted regardless of size.
All guests will also be manually scanned with a security wand at the buffer area outside each entry point.
A list of items not permitted inside the arena follows. Patrons found with prohibited items will be asked to either dispose of the item or return it to their vehicle as the venue will not offer a “check service” for items of any kind. Items confiscated at entry will not be returned.
The following items are not permitted inside Veterans Memorial Arena:
· Large bags, backpacks or boxes (Note: the bag template we use is 12” x 12” x 12”)
· Food or beverage (with the exception of those having a food allergy)
· Cans, bottles, coolers or other similar containers
· Video cameras or audio recorders (in most instances – also see camera policy below)
· Tablets or iPads
· Drones
· Laser pens or laser products
· Noise making devices (horns, whistles etc.)
· Children's Car Seats
· Projectiles (including frisbees and beach balls)
· Oversized signs (larger than 2' x 3')
· Stickers of any kind
· Skateboards, skates (roller or in-line), or scooters
· Sticks, poles, selfie sticks, or Go Pro sticks
· Knives, chains or clubs
· Illegal substances
· Fireworks or any other incendiary device
· Strollers (must be checked in the Arena lobby)
· Illegal weapons of any kind or any item that can be construed as an illegal weapon
· Hover boards
· Any other item deemed unacceptable by the JVMA Management
"The safety and security of our teams, fans and event personnel are a priority in our preparation for this SEC championship event," said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey. "Considering recent events, we ask our fans to be attentive to their surroundings and to be patient as we implement measures that may provide some inconvenience but ultimately offer an environment of safety for those attending the weekend's events."
Working personnel, including media, should enter the arena through designated entrances where they will be subject to search and bag inspection. The bag size limit does not pertain to working personnel.
The SEC is encouraging fans to arrive early enough to get through security and leave any unnecessary items at home or in their cars. Gates open one hour prior to tip for games, Wednesday – Saturday and 90 minutes prior to the championship game on Sunday.
Associated Press Top 25 Poll - Feb. 29, 2016
| Rnk. | School | Record | Pts. | Pvs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut (32) | 28-0 | 800 | 1 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | 28-1 | 756 | 2 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 28-1 | 747 | 3 |
| 4 | Baylor | 29-1 | 704 | 4 |
| 5 | Maryland | 27-3 | 662 | 6 |
| 6 | Texas | 26-2 | 642 | 8 |
| 7 | Louisville | 24-6 | 578 | 10 |
| 8 | Oregon State | 25-4 | 550 | 7 |
| 9 | Ohio State | 23-6 | 549 | 5 |
| 10 | Arizona State | 25-5 | 499 | 9 |
| 11 | Stanford | 24-6 | 469 | 13 |
| 12 | UCLA | 22-7 | 437 | 14 |
| 13 | Kentucky | 21-6 | 415 | 15 |
| 14 | Florida State | 23-6 | 414 | 12 |
| 15 | Texas A&M | 21-8 | 356 | 11 |
| 16 | Mississippi State | 24-6 | 326 | 16 |
| 17 | Syracuse | 23-6 | 272 | 18 |
| 18 | DePaul | 24-7 | 236 | 19 |
| 19 | Michigan State | 22-7 | 233 | 20 |
| 20 | South Florida | 21-7 | 157 | 21 |
| 21 | Miami (FL) | 22-7 | 150 | 17 |
| 22 | West Virginia | 22-8 | 96 | 25 |
| 22 | Colorado State | 26-1 | 96 | NR |
| 24 | Oklahoma | 19-9 | 81 | 23 |
| 25 | Florida | 22-7 | 76 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma State 38, UTEP 23, Green Bay 12, Arkansas State 8, Florida Gulf Coast 6, BYU 4, Indiana 3, Army 3, Princeton 1, James Madison 1.
Dropped from rankings: Oklahoma State 22, Missouri 24.
