Sunday, March 3
Columbia, S.C.
1:00 PM
Mississippi State
at
#14 South Carolina
Fast Facts: Ten Things to Know for State’s Regular-Season Finale
March 02, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – For the fifth time in the last eight meetings, an SEC title will be on the line when No. 5/5 Mississippi State meets No. 14/15 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff in Columbia is set for 1 p.m. CT with the game airing on ESPN2. Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck and Brooke Weisbrod will have the call.
Fans can listen to the action on the MSU Radio Network and online via HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.
The Bulldogs (26-2, 14-1 SEC) hold a one game edge on the Gamecocks (21-7, 13-2 SEC) in the conference standings and have already clinched at least a share of the regular-season title. However, the top seed in next week's SEC Tournament could still be up for grabs with a South Carolina win depending on how the remaining games across the league shake out.
MSU and South Carolina have combined to win the last five SEC regular-season championships. The two teams are the league's top offensive units in points per game and are both among the top three in field goal percentage, rebounding margin and blocks per game.
In their last meeting, the Bulldogs rallied after losing Chloe Bibby in the first minute of play to claim an 89-74 victory. Teaira McCowan had as many rebounds (24) in that game as the entire South Carolina squad, including a dozen offensive boards.
State dominated down low in that game, outscoring South Carolina, 44-22, in the paint. McCowan helped contribute to a 23-6 edge in second-chance points. The Bulldogs lead the conference with 514 second-chance points this year, more than 100 more than the second-place team.
The SEC Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 6 in Greeneville, South Carolina. The Bulldogs have already secured the double-bye and will begin play on Friday, March 8 with their opponent still to be determined.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: South Carolina
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (Colonial Life Arena)
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Watch: ESPN2 (PxP – Pam Ward; Analyst – Carolyn Peck; Sideline – Brooke Weisbrod)
Listen: MSU Radio Network and HailState.com/Plus (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Overall: SC leads leads 21-18
At MSU: MSU leads 11-6
At SC: SC leads 11-5
Neutral Sites: SC leads 4-2
Last Meeting: MSU, 89-74 (1/17/19 in Starkville)
10 THINGS TO KNOW
LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...
GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT…
STARKVILLE – For the fifth time in the last eight meetings, an SEC title will be on the line when No. 5/5 Mississippi State meets No. 14/15 South Carolina on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff in Columbia is set for 1 p.m. CT with the game airing on ESPN2. Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck and Brooke Weisbrod will have the call.
Fans can listen to the action on the MSU Radio Network and online via HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.
The Bulldogs (26-2, 14-1 SEC) hold a one game edge on the Gamecocks (21-7, 13-2 SEC) in the conference standings and have already clinched at least a share of the regular-season title. However, the top seed in next week's SEC Tournament could still be up for grabs with a South Carolina win depending on how the remaining games across the league shake out.
MSU and South Carolina have combined to win the last five SEC regular-season championships. The two teams are the league's top offensive units in points per game and are both among the top three in field goal percentage, rebounding margin and blocks per game.
In their last meeting, the Bulldogs rallied after losing Chloe Bibby in the first minute of play to claim an 89-74 victory. Teaira McCowan had as many rebounds (24) in that game as the entire South Carolina squad, including a dozen offensive boards.
State dominated down low in that game, outscoring South Carolina, 44-22, in the paint. McCowan helped contribute to a 23-6 edge in second-chance points. The Bulldogs lead the conference with 514 second-chance points this year, more than 100 more than the second-place team.
The SEC Tournament begins on Wednesday, March 6 in Greeneville, South Carolina. The Bulldogs have already secured the double-bye and will begin play on Friday, March 8 with their opponent still to be determined.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: South Carolina
Location: Columbia, South Carolina (Colonial Life Arena)
Time: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Watch: ESPN2 (PxP – Pam Ward; Analyst – Carolyn Peck; Sideline – Brooke Weisbrod)
Listen: MSU Radio Network and HailState.com/Plus (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)
SERIES HISTORY
Overall: Overall: SC leads leads 21-18
At MSU: MSU leads 11-6
At SC: SC leads 11-5
Neutral Sites: SC leads 4-2
Last Meeting: MSU, 89-74 (1/17/19 in Starkville)
10 THINGS TO KNOW
- Vic Schaefer was named a late-season candidate for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women's Coach of the Year award on Wednesday morning.
- McCowan is 1st in the SEC and 4th in Division I this season hauling down 13.3 rpg. She leads the nation on the offensive glass (5.7 rpg.)
- McCowan has scored 35.0 percent (93-of-266) of her points in conference play off 91 offensive rebounds. That equates to 6.2 ppg off second chances.
- Jordan Danberry is averaging 13.4 points per game this season after scoring just 2.8 ppg last season. That marks the 2nd-largest scoring increase (+10.6 ppg) in the SEC this year behind only Texas A&M's Kayla Wells (+12.1 ppg).
- Seniors Jazzmun Holmes and McCowan picked up career victory No. 125 on Thursday against LSU. That total is the 4th-most nationally since 2015-16 and just 1 win away from matching last year's class (126) for the program's career wins record.
- The Bulldogs are undefeated on Sundays with a 9-0 record and are 6-0 at home. State outscores opponents by an average of 32.4 points on Sunday, 3.5 points more than its margin the rest of the week.
- MSU has trailed for a total of 79:54 out of 1,120 minutes this season. In the last 10 games (400 minutes), State has only trailed for a combined 21:44.
- As a team, the Dawgs block 14.2% of opponents' 2-point FG attempts, which is 9th in the nation by HerHoopStats.com.
- Anriel Howard has scored in double figures in 12 of 15 conference games. In that stretch, she is averaging 15.9 ppg and 8.3 rpg while shooting 50.0% from the field.
- Howard and McCowan's 103 combined double-oubles are the most among a pair of teammates in the nation.
LAST TIME OUT FOR MSU...
- MSU clinched at least a share of the SEC regular season championship for the second straight year with a 76-56 win against LSU on senior night.
- Four of State's five seniors scored in double figures with Teaira McCowan posting 25. She scored 20 of her points in the paint.
- The Bulldogs held a 54-16 advantage in paint points, but tied the Tigers with 31 rebounds each.
- MSU forced 28 turnovers with a dozen steals and held LSU to just 37.8 percent shooting (16-of-43) from the field.
- State shot 50.0 percent (30-of-60) from the field for the 11th time this year.
GET TO KNOW THE OPPONENT…
- No. 14/15 South Carolina enters the game with a 20-7 (12-2 SEC) record and is just one game back of the Bulldogs in the SEC standings.
- The Gamecocks and MSU have combined to win the last 5 SEC regular season titles, and 4 of their last 7 meetings have come with a trophy on the line.
- The Gamecocks and Bulldogs also both rank among the league's top three in field goal percentage, rebounding margin and blocks per game.
- South Carolina will celebrate its Senior Day prior to the game. The Gamecocks have won their last seven Senior Day games.
Players Mentioned
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