No. 2 MSU, No. 6 Gamecocks Set For Title Game Rematch

Monday, February 5

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

#7 South Carolina

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No. 2 MSU, No. 6 Gamecocks Set For Title Game Rematch

February 04, 2018 | Women's Basketball

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STARKVILLE, Miss. – A rematch of last season's NCAA championship game is set for a sold-out Humphrey Coliseum Monday night as No. 2 Mississippi State meets sixth-ranked South Carolina.

Tip for the game, presented by Mississippi Ford Dealers, is set for 6 p.m., with ESPN2 broadcasting the game nationally. The contest will also be available online on WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.

The MSU Radio Network will carry the game on stations around the state. A live audio stream can be found online at www.HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.

Fans are asked to wear white to the battle between the Top 2 teams in the SEC standings. Mississippi State tops the league with a 9-0 record. MSU is one of two undefeated teams in the country with a program-best 23-0 record.

State kept its perfect start intact with a thrilling 57-53 come-from-behind road win at No. 15 Missouri on Thursday. Blair Schaefer led the way with an SEC personal-best 20 points, while Victoria Vivians tallied 15 points, including the go-ahead basket in the final seconds.

Teaira McCowan collected her 16^th double-double of the year with 17 points and 17 rebounds. McCowan and Vivians are the SEC's top-scoring duo, rating third and fourth on the year averaging 19.8 and 19.4 ppg, respectively.

McCowan is also one of the country's top rebounders, rating third in the Division I ranks with 13.0 rpg.

South Carolina is 18-4 overall and 7-2 in SEC play after having a four-game win streak halted with an 83-58 setback against No. 1 UConn on Thursday.

A'ja Wilson leads South Carolina with 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. Alexis Jennings and Tyasha Harris add 13.9 and 13.7 ppg, respectively, in SEC contests.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: No. 6/7 South Carolina
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Date: Monday, February 5
Time: 6:03 p.m.
Television: ESPN2 (PxP – Eric Frede; Analyst – Debbie Antonelli; Reporter – Steffi Sorensen)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network and HailState.com/Plus (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)

PROMOTIONS

Game Sponsor: Mississippi Ford Dealers
Fans asked to wear white
Bully's Kidz Kourt – Opens at 4 p.m.
MSU Student Lounge

SERIES HISTORY
SOUTH CAROLINA (USC leads 20-16)
At MSU: MSU leads 9-6
At South Carolina: USC leads 11-5
At Neutral Sites: USC leads 3-2

Last 10 Meetings
4/2/2017                 L               55-67                      N
3/5/2017                 L               49-59                      N
1/23/2017               L               61-64                      A
3/6/2016                 L               52-66                      N
1/24/2016               L               51-57                      H
2/26/2015               L               50-69                      A
2/6/2014                 L               64-71                      H
2/24/2013               L               43-58                      A
1/06/2013               L               46-60                      H
1/29/2012               L               43-69                      A

BULLDOG BITES

Mississippi State improved its school record overall win streak to 23-0 with its 57-53 road win at No. 15 Missouri.
Its 9-0 SEC start is also the best in program history.
Thursday's win at Mizzou made the MSU senior class the winningest in program history at 112-career victories.
Monday's game is the first advanced sellout in school history.
MSU is 9th in the nation in scoring offense at 83.8 ppg.
State is averaging an SEC-best 79.8 ppg in league play.
The Dawgs are shooting 47.4% from the field, 12th in Division I. MSU is 2nd in league games at 46.9%.
MSU also leads the SEC (15th in DI) in scoring defense (55.5 ppg). In SEC games, State allows a league-low 57.1 ppg. It has given up 51.8 ppg the last 4 games.
MSU is 1 of 3 teams (Baylor, UConn) to rank in the Top 10 in the nation in offense and Top 20 in defense.
State is 2nd in the SEC forcing 20.3 turnovers per game. MSU turns it over just 11.3 times per game, 4th-fewest in Division I.
Victoria Vivians is averaging 22.4 ppg this season, 17.6 in her career, against ranked opponents after scoring 15 at Missouri.
Vivians has double figures in 22 of MSU's 23 games.
McCowan's 16 double-doubles this year are tied for 2nd-most in a season at MSU, 4 back of the record.
With 298 rebounds this season, McCowan is 5th in MSU single-season records, 19 back of the school record.
Blair Schaefer netted a personal SEC best with 20 points at Missouri. Her career high is 21 against Troy in last season's NCAA Tournament opening round.
In SEC games, Schaefer tops the SEC in 3FG made (3.2) and is 4th in 3FG% (44.6%).
Morgan William is 2nd in DI in assist/turnover ratio (4.2).

LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...

Victoria Vivians hit the go-ahead jumper with 2.8 seconds left, and Blair Schaefer took a crucial late charge to cap a 20-point night as MSU won at No. 15 Missouri 57-53 on Thursday.
State trailed 34-25 at halftime but turned the tide by out-scoring the Tigers 18-6 in the third quarter. MSU held Mizzou to 2-of-11 shooting from the field in the quarter.
In addition to Schaefer's 20, Vivians added 15 points while Teaira McCowan grabbed her 16th double-double of the year with 17 points and 17 rebounds.

GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT

South Carolina is 18-4 overall and 7-2 in SEC play. The Gamecocks had a 4-game win streak halted with an 83-58 setback to No. 1 UConn on Thursday.
A'ja Wilson leads USC with 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. She is scoring 20.7 ppg and grabbing 11.9 rpg in SEC contests. Alexis Jennings and Tyasha Harris are chipping in 13.9 and 13.7 ppg, respectively, in league play.