Challenging Non-Conference Schedule Finalizes MSU’s 2016-17 Slate
September 22, 2016 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State will be well-prepared for the Southeastern Conference women's basketball schedule after playing a challenging non-conference slate that was announced Wednesday.
The non-conference schedule comes a day after the Bulldogs' SEC and television schedules were released. The 2016-17 campaign sees Mississippi State play in 10 different states, five in the non-conference. Vic Schaefer's fifth Bulldog team also faces 19 teams that advanced to the postseason, including 12 that earned spots in the NCAA Tournament.
The opponents on the docket went a combined 585-378, a .607 winning percentage, and averaged 20 wins in 2015-16. State's pre-SEC slate includes 10 teams that advanced to the postseason last year, including four that played in the NCAA Tournament.
Fans can get their first look at Schaefer's fifth MSU edition Nov. 3 as former Bulldog assistant coach Elena Lovato brings Arkansas-Fort Smith to Humphrey Coliseum for a 6 p.m. exhibition contest.
The Bulldogs officially begin the campaign on the road Nov. 11-12 at the Maine Tipoff Tournament, the first of seven pre-SEC road trips that encompass 17,190 miles of travel.
State has a tough opening challenge in Orono, Maine, meeting a Purdue squad that returns its top three scorers from a 20-12 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs wrap the season-opening trip the following day against either Villanova or the host Main Black Bears.
Villanova also finished 20-12 a year ago, ending the season in the WNIT second round. Maine earned a spot in the WNIT as well, capping the year with a 26-9 ledger.
MSU's first game in the Magnolia State comes Nov. 16 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, where the Bulldogs face Tulane in a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Tournament opening round won by State in Durham, N.C. The 2016-17 Green Wave has its top three scorers back from last year's team that won 23 games and advanced to the third round of the WNIT.
Mississippi State begins its home schedule Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. when the Bulldogs host Texas on the SEC Network. The contest will be a rematch of last season's meeting in Austin which the Longhorns claimed 53-47. Both teams advanced to the final rounds of the Bridgeport Regional, with Texas capping a 31-5 season in the Elite Eight.
Following that potential showdown between ranked teams, Mississippi State plays its next eight contests away from the Hump, beginning with a Nov. 25-27 trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Tournament.
State faces Pac-12 member and WNIT semifinalist Oregon in the tournament opener. After facing San Jose State Nov. 26, the Bulldogs wrap the three-game event against the host Rainbow Wahine, an NCAA Tournament participant in 2015-16.
The road trip continues Dec. 3 when the Bulldogs venture to Ames to participate in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against an Iowa State squad that returns its top four point producers from a year ago. That contest tips at 1:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net.
After trips to Southern Miss (Dec. 10) and WNIT participant Arkansas-Little Rock (Dec. 13), Mississippi State heads to Los Angeles to compete in the Women of Troy Classic.
The Bulldogs begin play Dec. 16 against an SMU squad they defeated 72-70 last season in the Puerto Rico Classic championship game. Two days later, Mississippi State wraps the tournament and the non-conference road schedule against either Grambling or host USC.
Mississippi State's final SEC tune ups come at Humphrey Coliseum. On Dec. 20, the Bulldogs host Alabama State, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning the SWAC Tournament title and sharing the regular-season crown. MSU returns from the Christmas holiday to face Northwestern State on Dec. 28.
The Bulldogs return all five starters from last year's squad that won a school-record 28 games, tied for second in the SEC and advanced to the program's second NCAA Sweet 16.
Season tickets for 2016-17 are on sale now online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS.
The non-conference schedule comes a day after the Bulldogs' SEC and television schedules were released. The 2016-17 campaign sees Mississippi State play in 10 different states, five in the non-conference. Vic Schaefer's fifth Bulldog team also faces 19 teams that advanced to the postseason, including 12 that earned spots in the NCAA Tournament.
The opponents on the docket went a combined 585-378, a .607 winning percentage, and averaged 20 wins in 2015-16. State's pre-SEC slate includes 10 teams that advanced to the postseason last year, including four that played in the NCAA Tournament.
Fans can get their first look at Schaefer's fifth MSU edition Nov. 3 as former Bulldog assistant coach Elena Lovato brings Arkansas-Fort Smith to Humphrey Coliseum for a 6 p.m. exhibition contest.
The Bulldogs officially begin the campaign on the road Nov. 11-12 at the Maine Tipoff Tournament, the first of seven pre-SEC road trips that encompass 17,190 miles of travel.
State has a tough opening challenge in Orono, Maine, meeting a Purdue squad that returns its top three scorers from a 20-12 team that advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs wrap the season-opening trip the following day against either Villanova or the host Main Black Bears.
Villanova also finished 20-12 a year ago, ending the season in the WNIT second round. Maine earned a spot in the WNIT as well, capping the year with a 26-9 ledger.
MSU's first game in the Magnolia State comes Nov. 16 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, where the Bulldogs face Tulane in a rematch of the 2015 NCAA Tournament opening round won by State in Durham, N.C. The 2016-17 Green Wave has its top three scorers back from last year's team that won 23 games and advanced to the third round of the WNIT.
Mississippi State begins its home schedule Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. when the Bulldogs host Texas on the SEC Network. The contest will be a rematch of last season's meeting in Austin which the Longhorns claimed 53-47. Both teams advanced to the final rounds of the Bridgeport Regional, with Texas capping a 31-5 season in the Elite Eight.
Following that potential showdown between ranked teams, Mississippi State plays its next eight contests away from the Hump, beginning with a Nov. 25-27 trip to Honolulu, Hawaii, for the Waikiki Beach Marriott Tournament.
State faces Pac-12 member and WNIT semifinalist Oregon in the tournament opener. After facing San Jose State Nov. 26, the Bulldogs wrap the three-game event against the host Rainbow Wahine, an NCAA Tournament participant in 2015-16.
The road trip continues Dec. 3 when the Bulldogs venture to Ames to participate in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against an Iowa State squad that returns its top four point producers from a year ago. That contest tips at 1:30 p.m. CT on Fox Sports Net.
After trips to Southern Miss (Dec. 10) and WNIT participant Arkansas-Little Rock (Dec. 13), Mississippi State heads to Los Angeles to compete in the Women of Troy Classic.
The Bulldogs begin play Dec. 16 against an SMU squad they defeated 72-70 last season in the Puerto Rico Classic championship game. Two days later, Mississippi State wraps the tournament and the non-conference road schedule against either Grambling or host USC.
Mississippi State's final SEC tune ups come at Humphrey Coliseum. On Dec. 20, the Bulldogs host Alabama State, who advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning the SWAC Tournament title and sharing the regular-season crown. MSU returns from the Christmas holiday to face Northwestern State on Dec. 28.
The Bulldogs return all five starters from last year's squad that won a school-record 28 games, tied for second in the SEC and advanced to the program's second NCAA Sweet 16.
Season tickets for 2016-17 are on sale now online at www.hailstate.com/tickets or by phone at 1-888-GO-DAWGS.
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