Lady Bulldogs Conclude Regular Season, Host No. 15 Florida On Senior Day
May 25, 2016 | Women's Basketball
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STARKVILLE, Miss. --? Sharon Fanning's Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs will close out the 2001-2002 regular season with a Sunday afternoon contest versus the Carol Ross-led Florida Lady Gators. State's lone senior, injured post player Jennifer Fambrough, will be honored during pre-game ceremonies before the 2 p.m. tip-off.
Fambrough, who is recovering from back surgery and is hopeful for the post-season, was averaging 12.3 points and six rebounds per contest before missing the last five games, a stretch in which State has gone 1-4. MSU (17-10, 7-6) can finish above .500 in the conference with a win. Florida (18-8, 8-5) sits just one game ahead of Mississippi State in the conference standings. Heading into Sunday's game, the Lady Bulldogs are in sole possession of sixth place in the conference, and can move as high as a tie for fourth place with a win.
National player of the year candidate LaToya Thomas leads the SEC in scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game. The two-time Kodak All-American also leads State in rebounding, pulling down 9.4 boards per contest, and field-goal shooting (57.4 percent). Thomas has scored at least 30 points in four of her last six games, including a 33-point effort last Thursday in an 88-77 set-back at LSU.
Freshman Tan White is averaging 19.2 points per game and 7.4 rebounds per outing. The Tupelo-native leads the squad in assists (4.5 apg), steals (2.8 spg) and blocks (1.0 bpg). White scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds in her last outing.
Florida is led by Vanessa Hayden, who is averaging 17.5 points per game and leads the league in rebounding, with 12.1 boards per contest. Brandi McCain is pouring in 15.4 points per outing for the Lady Gators.
Mississippi State is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 78.3 points per contest while allowing 70.7. State shoots 46.2 percent from the floor, 37.3 percent from long-range, and 72.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Lady Gators average 71.8 points per contest while giving up 64.9. Florida shoots 40.9 percent from the field, 31 percent from three-point range, and 61.4 percent from the free-throw line. Florida leads the league in rebounding, averaging 44.4 boards per outing.
The Lady Bulldogs lead the series, 13-12, and have won two of the last three, including a 79-75 upset victory in Gainesville to close out the regular season last year. The two teams split the series last season, with Florida holding an 82-70 advantage earlier in the year at Starkville.
The game will be broadcast on WFCA, 107.9-FM, the flagship station for MSU sports, with Steve Ellis calling the play-by-play.
