No. 2 MSU Hosts Florida For "Victoria Vivians Night"

Thursday, January 25

Starkville

7:30 PM

Mississippi State

Florida

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No. 2 MSU Hosts Florida For "Victoria Vivians Night"

January 24, 2018 | Women's Basketball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – No. 2 Mississippi State women's basketball vies for the best start in school history as it returns home to face the Florida Gators at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs seek to surpass last season's best start after improving to 20-0 overall and 6-0 in SEC play last Sunday at No. 6 Tennessee.

Thursday will be "Victoria Vivians Night," with free posters of the senior guard being given away prior to tip.

Tickets for Thursday's game cost $5 for adults and $3 for youth age 17 and under. Bully's Kids Club members get free admission with their membership ID card.

Any fan who wears a crown to the game in honor of MSU's 2017 Homecoming Queen can pick up a free ticket in the Mize Pavilion lobby outside Bully's Kidz Kourt.

For fans unable to attend, the SEC Network will air the contest nationally with Pam Ward and Gail Goestenkors on the call.

WKBB-FM and WFCA-FM will have the radio broadcast in the Golden Triangle and surrounding areas, while WVBG-FM will carry the game in Vicksburg. Fans can also listen to the audio stream on HailState.com/plus and the TuneIn app.

The Bulldogs matched the best overall and SEC starts in program annals with an impressive 71-52 victory in Knoxville, Tenn., marking State's second-straight victory in Thompson-Boling Arena.

Vivians led the way for Vic Schaefer's squad, securing her 10^th 20-point game of the season with 24 points. The Carthage, Miss., native, who is also hauling in 7.0 rpg in SEC play, currently sits fourth in the league in scoring at 19.5 ppg. She is tallying 18.8 ppg in the six conference contests.

She has put together quite the career for MSU, becoming just the third player in Bulldog history to record 2,000-career points. Vivians also rates third at State in career field goals made (775), second in 3-point field goals made (249) and seventh in both free throws made (345) and steals (194).

Teaira McCowan posted another stellar effort against the Lady Vols, recording her 15^th double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds. The Brenham, Texas, native rates third in the SEC with 20.5 ppg and first in the league, third nationally, with 13.2 rpg.

In conference games, McCowan is tallying 21.8 ppg and grabbing 14.7 rpg.

Schaefer's Bulldogs welcome a Florida team to Starkville that is 10-10 overall and 2-5 in SEC play.

The Gators are coming off their first two SEC victories of the season. Funda Nakkasoglu paces Florida with 14.2 ppg, while reigning SEC Player of the Week Haley Lorenzen records 12.9 ppg and 9.4 rpg.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Florida
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Doors Open: 6 p.m.
Tickets: www.HailState.com/tickets ($5 adults/$3 youth age 17 & under)
Television: SEC Network (PxP – Pam Ward; Analyst – Gail Goestenkors)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network and HailState.com/Plus (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)

PROMOTIONS

Victoria Vivians Senior Night (Free Victoria Vivians Posters)
Free ticket for any fan wearing a crown
MSU Student Lounge (Opens at 5 p.m. – Free "Queen" Cake Slices and Team Trivia)
Bully's Kidz Kourt (Opens at 6 p.m.)

SERIES HISTORY
FLORIDA (Florida leads 25-21)
At MSU: MSU leads 13-8
At Florida: UF leads 13-7
At Neutral Sites: UF leads 4-1

Last 10 Meetings
1/12/2017               W             82-49                      H
1/3/2016                 W             76-70                      A
2/15/2015               W             75-62                      H
3/6/2014                 L               67-71                      N
1/2/2014                 L               72-82                      A
1/10/2013               L               55-61                      H
2/23/2012               L               45-79                      A
2/20/2011               L               63-78                      A
1/30/2011               L               60-67                      H
2/7/2010                 L               78-80 (2OT) A

BULLDOG BITES

State seeks the best start in school history after matching last year's record at 20-0 with a win at No. 6 Tennessee last Sunday.
A win Thursday would also be the best start to SEC play in program history and match MSU's longest league win streak.
State's No. 2 ranking in the AP Top 25 is its highest ever in the poll. It's No. 2 rating in the USA Today poll matches last season's final poll for the highest ranking.
MSU is 5th in the nation in scoring offense at 85.6 ppg. The Dawgs are averaging an SEC-best 83.7 ppg in league play.
State held Tennessee to a season-low 52 points. MSU leads the league and is 20th nationally surrendering 56.1 ppg.
The Dawgs are 1 of 3 teams to rank in the Top 10 in the nation in offense and Top 20 in defense.
After grabbing 17 offensive rebounds last Sunday, MSU is averaging 16.6 2nd-chance points per game this season.
State turns the ball over just 11.8 times per game, 6th-fewest in the nation. MSU is 4th in DI with a +8.5 turnover margin and averages 24.6 ppg off opponent miscues this season.
Teaira McCowan is 3rd in the SEC in scoring (20.5 ppg), 1st in rebounds (13.2 rpg) and 2nd in FG% (.642) this season.
McCowan is 21 points from 1,000 for her career.
McCowan grabbed her 15th double-double of the season at Tennessee. That total leads the SEC and is 4th nationally.
Victoria Vivians posted her 10th 20-point game of the season with 24 points at UT. She has 42 for her career.
Vivians is 4th in the SEC in scoring at 19.5 ppg this year.
Roshunda Johnson is averaging 15 points the last 2 games.
Morgan William is 2nd in DI in assist/turnover ratio (4.1).
Blair Schaefer tops the SEC with 50 3FG made.

LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...

Mississippi State won at Tennessee for the 2nd-straight year, claiming a 71-52 win against the No. 6 Lady Vols on Sunday. The Bulldogs turned in a stout defensive performance, holding UT to a season low in points and 35.8% shooting, including 0-of-8 from 3-point range. State limited Tennessee to 2 field goals and 8 points in the 4th quarter.
Victoria Vivians led MSU with 24 points, and Roshunda Johnson and Blair Schaefer added 16 and 12, respectively. Teaira McCowan grabbed 18 rebounds to go with 12 points as MSU out-rebounded UT 44-33.

GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT

Florida heads to MSU 10-10 on the season and 2-5 in SEC play. The Gators are coming off their first 2 SEC wins of the season, a 65-51 victory at Arkansas and a 61-60 home win against Ole Miss.
Funda Nakkasoglu paces UF averaging 14.2 ppg this season. SEC Player of the Week Haley Lorenzen averages 12.9 ppg and a team-high 9.6 rpg after claiming a pair of double-doubles last week. Lorenzen tops the Gators with 13.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in SEC games.