Photo by: Blake Williams/MSU Athletics
McCowan Chosen as Finalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
March 12, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – The SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Teaira McCowan, continues to chase national recognition. The senior center is one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award presented by Bona.
All four candidates were defensive players of the year in their respective conferences, but McCowan is the only previous winner of the national award after winning it last year in its inaugural season.
The SEC Tournament MVP and a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection, McCowan led the SEC in rebounding this year and was third nationally at 13.5 rpg. She was second nationally in rebounding rate, collected 25.4 percent of her opportunities, according to HerHoopStats.com.
The Brenham, Texas, native is leading the Mississippi State's historic shot blocking pace. MSU has recorded 174 blocked shots, which is tied for second in program history. McCowan has swatted 76 attempts this year, which is 16th in the country and seventh in MSU single-season history.
She is in the top percent of players in the country, blocking 8.2 percent of her opponents' field goal attempts, according to HerHoopStats.com. She has also collected 26 steals this year.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year will be announced on April 5.
MSU rose one spot to No. 4 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches' Poll this week after winning the first SEC Tournament championship in program history on Sunday.
The Bulldogs will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history when the bracket is announced on Monday, March 18. The Selection Show will air at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, and fans are invited to join the team for a watch party in Humphrey Coliseum.
STARKVILLE – The SEC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, Teaira McCowan, continues to chase national recognition. The senior center is one of four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award presented by Bona.
All four candidates were defensive players of the year in their respective conferences, but McCowan is the only previous winner of the national award after winning it last year in its inaugural season.
The SEC Tournament MVP and a unanimous First Team All-SEC selection, McCowan led the SEC in rebounding this year and was third nationally at 13.5 rpg. She was second nationally in rebounding rate, collected 25.4 percent of her opportunities, according to HerHoopStats.com.
The Brenham, Texas, native is leading the Mississippi State's historic shot blocking pace. MSU has recorded 174 blocked shots, which is tied for second in program history. McCowan has swatted 76 attempts this year, which is 16th in the country and seventh in MSU single-season history.
She is in the top percent of players in the country, blocking 8.2 percent of her opponents' field goal attempts, according to HerHoopStats.com. She has also collected 26 steals this year.
The Naismith Defensive Player of the Year will be announced on April 5.
MSU rose one spot to No. 4 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches' Poll this week after winning the first SEC Tournament championship in program history on Sunday.
The Bulldogs will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history when the bracket is announced on Monday, March 18. The Selection Show will air at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN, and fans are invited to join the team for a watch party in Humphrey Coliseum.
Associated Press Top 25 – March 11
| Rk. | School | Rcd. | Pts. | Pvs. |
| 1 | Baylor (28) | 30-1 | 700 | 1 |
| 2 | Connecticut | 30-2 | 663 | 2 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | 30-3 | 652 | 4 |
| 4 | Mississippi State | 30-2 | 609 | 5 |
| 5 | Louisville | 29-3 | 578 | 3 |
| 6 | Stanford | 28-4 | 568 | 7 |
| 7 | Oregon | 29-4 | 533 | 6 |
| 8 | Iowa | 26-6 | 508 | 10 |
| 9 | Maryland | 28-4 | 454 | 8 |
| 10 | North Carolina State | 26-5 | 447 | 9 |
| 11 | Oregon State | 24-7 | 360 | 11 |
| 12 | Gonzaga | 27-3 | 357 | 14 |
| 13 | Iowa State | 25-7 | 309 | 19 |
| 13 | Marquette | 25-6 | 309 | 17 |
| 15 | Syracuse | 24-8 | 287 | 18 |
| 16 | South Carolina | 21-9 | 284 | 12 |
| 17 | Texas A&M | 24-7 | 279 | 15 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 24-7 | 262 | 13 |
| 19 | Miami (Fla.) | 24-8 | 234 | 16 |
| 20 | UCLA | 20-12 | 114 | 25 |
| 21 | Drake | 25-5 | 110 | 22 |
| 22 | Texas | 23-9 | 94 | 21 |
| 23 | Arizona State | 20-10 | 91 | 20 |
| 24 | Rice | 25-3 | 85 | 24 |
| 25 | Florida State | 23-8 | 77 | 22 |
USA Today Coaches' Poll – March 12
| Rk. | School | Rcd. | Pts. | Pvs. |
| 1 | Baylor (32) | 31-1 | 800 | 1 |
| 2 | Connecticut | 31-2 | 762 | 2 |
| 3 | Notre Dame | 30-3 | 735 | 4 |
| 4 | Mississippi State | 30-2 | 696 | 5 |
| 5 | Louisville | 29-3 | 673 | 3 |
| 6 | Stanford | 28-4 | 642 | 7 |
| 7 | Oregon | 29-4 | 598 | 6 |
| 8 | Iowa | 26-6 | 586 | 10 |
| 9 | Maryland | 28-4 | 535 | 8 |
| 10 | North Carolina State | 26-5 | 476 | 11 |
| 11 | Gonzaga | 28-3 | 437 | 12 |
| 12 | Oregon State | 24-7 | 436 | 9 |
| 13 | Marquette | 26-6 | 373 | 17 |
| 14 | Syracuse | 24-8 | 356 | 16 |
| 15 | Iowa State | 25-8 | 318 | 19 |
| 16 | Miami-Florida | 24-8 | 301 | 15 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 24-7 | 289 | 14 |
| 18 | South Carolina | 21-9 | 286 | 13 |
| 19 | Texas A&M | 24-7 | 208 | 18 |
| 20 | Arizona State | 20-10 | 154 | 20 |
| 21 | Drake | 25-5 | 147 | 23 |
| 22 | Florida State | 23-8 | 143 | 21 |
| 23 | DePaul | 25-7 | 107 | 24 |
| 24 | Texas | 23-9 | 79 | 22 |
| 25 | South Dakota | 28-4 | 74 | 25 |
Players Mentioned
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