Thursday, February 22
Starkville
7:00 PM
Mississippi State
vs
Auburn
No. 2 MSU Hosts Auburn For Senior Night
February 21, 2018 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A school-record 117-career wins. Mississippi State's first Southeastern Conference regular-season championship. The program's first Final Four. One of the biggest upsets in college basketball history. Four-straight 20-win seasons and four-consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.
Those are just some of the accomplishments for Mississippi State seniors Roshunda Johnson, Blair Schaefer, Victoria Vivians and Morgan William. The quartet believed in Vic Schaefer's vision, and in four years they have helped catapult Mississippi State women's basketball among the nation's top programs.
The foursome plays its final home game Thursday as the No. 2 Bulldogs host Auburn in a 7 p.m. tip at Humphrey Coliseum.
The game will be streamed online on the SEC Network +, with Bart Gregory and Charlie Winfield handling the call. The game can also be heard on stations around the state on the MSU Radio Network and online on www.HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and fans can take pictures with the SEC championship trophy prior to the game in the Mize Pavilion lobby. A limited number of 2018 SEC Champions posters will also be available.
Mississippi State heads into the final week of the regular season 28-0 overall and 14-0 in SEC action. The 28 wins, the longest active win streak and most wins in the nation, are tied for the second-most victories in program history, while the 14 league wins bettered last year's squad for the most in MSU annals.
That 14th win came against No. 17 Texas A&M, 76-55, on Sunday. All five MSU starters scored double figures in the game, with Vivians leading the way with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The Carthage, Miss., native, who is the third Bulldog to score 2,000-career points, has been the SEC's third-best scorer this season, averaging 19.9 ppg. This year has been the best of her career, as she is one of two players in the SEC shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the line.
William will cap her MSU career the Bulldogs' career assist leader as she has dished over 600 dimes in her time in Starkville. This season she is second in the league with 4.8 apg, including a 5.0 average in conference play. The Birmingham, Ala., native is also second in the country in assist/turnover ratio with a 4.3 mark.
Schaefer and Johnson have combined to form a solid combo from the 3-point arc, making 69-of-155 (44.5 percent) from the arc. Schaefer reached double figures for the 16th time this season on Sunday and is averaging 11.0 ppg in SEC play behind a league fifth-best 44.7 percent from 3-point range.
Johnson has been outstanding the last four games, averaging 17.0 ppg behind 51-percent shooting from the field and a 53.8-percent conversion rate from the arc. The Little Rock, Ark., native is hitting 11.6 ppg and knocking down 44.3-percent from downtown.
Sunday's game also saw MSU eclipse 100,000 in season attendance for the first time. With 104,340 for the season, a crowd of 5,660 will give State 110,000 and Vic Schaefer will donate $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Starkville via Cadence Bank.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Auburn
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Date: Thursday, February 22
Time: 7:02 p.m.
Doors Open: 5 p.m.
Tickets: Sold Out
Watch Online: SEC Network + (PxP – Bart Gregory; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)
Where To Watch: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder)
PROMOTIONS
SERIES HISTORY
AUBURN (AU leads 35-20)
At MSU: Auburn leads 14-12
At Auburn: Auburn leads 20-6
At Neutral Sites: MSU leads 2-1
Last 10 Meetings
2/2/2017 W 77-47 A
1/7/2016 W 60-45 H
1/26/2015 W 59-48 A
3/27/2014 W 59-54 H
2/9/2014 L 43-51 A
1/5/2014 L 74-82 H
3/3/2013 L 65-74 A
1/22/2012 W 62-57 H
3/3/2011 W 49-47 N
2/6/2011 W 57-45 A
BULLDOG BITES
LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...
GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT
Those are just some of the accomplishments for Mississippi State seniors Roshunda Johnson, Blair Schaefer, Victoria Vivians and Morgan William. The quartet believed in Vic Schaefer's vision, and in four years they have helped catapult Mississippi State women's basketball among the nation's top programs.
The foursome plays its final home game Thursday as the No. 2 Bulldogs host Auburn in a 7 p.m. tip at Humphrey Coliseum.
The game will be streamed online on the SEC Network +, with Bart Gregory and Charlie Winfield handling the call. The game can also be heard on stations around the state on the MSU Radio Network and online on www.HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and fans can take pictures with the SEC championship trophy prior to the game in the Mize Pavilion lobby. A limited number of 2018 SEC Champions posters will also be available.
Mississippi State heads into the final week of the regular season 28-0 overall and 14-0 in SEC action. The 28 wins, the longest active win streak and most wins in the nation, are tied for the second-most victories in program history, while the 14 league wins bettered last year's squad for the most in MSU annals.
That 14th win came against No. 17 Texas A&M, 76-55, on Sunday. All five MSU starters scored double figures in the game, with Vivians leading the way with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
The Carthage, Miss., native, who is the third Bulldog to score 2,000-career points, has been the SEC's third-best scorer this season, averaging 19.9 ppg. This year has been the best of her career, as she is one of two players in the SEC shooting 50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the line.
William will cap her MSU career the Bulldogs' career assist leader as she has dished over 600 dimes in her time in Starkville. This season she is second in the league with 4.8 apg, including a 5.0 average in conference play. The Birmingham, Ala., native is also second in the country in assist/turnover ratio with a 4.3 mark.
Schaefer and Johnson have combined to form a solid combo from the 3-point arc, making 69-of-155 (44.5 percent) from the arc. Schaefer reached double figures for the 16th time this season on Sunday and is averaging 11.0 ppg in SEC play behind a league fifth-best 44.7 percent from 3-point range.
Johnson has been outstanding the last four games, averaging 17.0 ppg behind 51-percent shooting from the field and a 53.8-percent conversion rate from the arc. The Little Rock, Ark., native is hitting 11.6 ppg and knocking down 44.3-percent from downtown.
Sunday's game also saw MSU eclipse 100,000 in season attendance for the first time. With 104,340 for the season, a crowd of 5,660 will give State 110,000 and Vic Schaefer will donate $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Starkville via Cadence Bank.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Auburn
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Date: Thursday, February 22
Time: 7:02 p.m.
Doors Open: 5 p.m.
Tickets: Sold Out
Watch Online: SEC Network + (PxP – Bart Gregory; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)
Where To Watch: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder)
PROMOTIONS
- Senior Night
- SEC Championship Trophy Pictures Pregame
- Limited Number of Free SEC Champions Posters
- Bully's Kidz Kourt – Opens 5 p.m. in Mize Pavilion
- MSU Student Lounge – Opens 4:30 p.m.
- Maroon Memories – www.HailState.com/Memories
SERIES HISTORY
AUBURN (AU leads 35-20)
At MSU: Auburn leads 14-12
At Auburn: Auburn leads 20-6
At Neutral Sites: MSU leads 2-1
Last 10 Meetings
2/2/2017 W 77-47 A
1/7/2016 W 60-45 H
1/26/2015 W 59-48 A
3/27/2014 W 59-54 H
2/9/2014 L 43-51 A
1/5/2014 L 74-82 H
3/3/2013 L 65-74 A
1/22/2012 W 62-57 H
3/3/2011 W 49-47 N
2/6/2011 W 57-45 A
BULLDOG BITES
- Mississippi State claimed its first SEC regular-season championship with Sunday's win against No. 17 Texas A&M.
- MSU's senior class has won 117-career games, most in school history, 2nd in the SEC and 6th in DI since 2014-15.
- State's 28-straight wins is the nation's longest active unbeaten streak. It is 1 of 2 unbeaten teams in the country.
- The 14 SEC wins are a new program record for league wins.
- State's .925 winning percentage the last 2 years is 2nd-best in Division I. Its 62 wins are tied with UConn for most in DI.
- Vic Schaefer was named a semifinalist for Naismith Coach of the Year on Wednesday.
- MSU has held 10 of 14 SEC foes below 60 points, including its last 9 opponents to 55 or fewer points.
- State tops the SEC in offense (83.5 ppg) and defense (55.0 ppg). MSU is 1 of 3 DI teams to rank in the Top 10 in offense (6th) and Top 20 in defense (17th).
- MSU's 10.8 turnovers per game is 3rd-fewest in Division I.
- The last 6 games, State is out-scoring foes 139-25 in points off turnovers (23.2 ppg-4.2 ppg). It averages 24.3 ppg off turnovers for the season, 22.7 ppg in SEC play.
- Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan are the SEC's top scoring duo at 19.9 and 18.8 ppg, respectively, this season.
- Vivians is 1 of 2 SEC players shooting 50% from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 80% at the FT line this season.
- McCowan tied the MSU season record with her 20th double-double on Sunday.
- In her last 4 games, Ro Johnson is averaging 17.0 ppg and shooting 51% from the field, 53.8% from 3-point range.
- Morgan William is averaging 5.6 apg the last 5 games. She is 2nd nationally with a 4.3 assist/turnover ratio.
- Blair Schaefer is 2nd in the SEC making 2.7 3FG per game this season. Her 75 triples are 6th in MSU history.
LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...
- Victoria Vivians' 26 points led all 5 Bulldog starters in double figures as MSU clinched the SEC regular-season title with a 76-55 win against No. 17/18 Texas A&M. State opened the game with an 11-0 run and never looked back en route to claiming the title-clinching victory.
- Vivians also added 12 rebounds. Ro Johnson tallied 16 points, Morgan William 12 and Blair Schaefer 11. Teaira McCowan collected 11 points and 11 rebounds.
- State held the Aggies under 30% from the field in 3 of the 4 quarters.
GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT
- Auburn heads to Starkville 13-13 overall and 4-10 in SEC play after dropping back-to-back games against Missouri and Alabama. The Tigers are 2-8 on the road this season.
Players Mentioned
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