Bulldogs Hand Out Team Awards at Annual Banquet
April 15, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Coordinator/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's women's basketball celebrated its third consecutive 30-win season on Monday night with the team's annual year-end awards banquet.
Teaira McCowan closed her historic career with the Miss Offense, Miss Defense and Most Outstanding Player awards. The senior center was the third overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft and led the team in both scoring and rebounding.
Offensively, McCowan averaged 18.4 points and had the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the nation (66.2 percent), which is an MSU single-season record. She scored in double-figures in 33 of 36 games this season including 16 20-point efforts.
On the other end of the floor, McCowan capped her career with a fourth straight season among the top 10 in MSU history in blocks (87). She led the team in rebounding (13.5 rpg) and was named both the SEC and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year.
McCowan holds the MSU career double-doubles record (70) and had 31 this year alone, breaking her own SEC record of 29 last year.
A second-round pick of the Seattle Storm, Anriel Howard was named the Newcomer of the Year and received the Miss Hustle award. Howard adjusted to Schaefer's system quickly and averaged 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in conference play. She collected a dozen double-doubles on the year and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press.
Jordan Danberry and Jazzmun Holmes were co-winners of the Most Improved award. Danberry raised her scoring output from 2.8 ppg to 13.1 ppg this year, the second-largest increase of any SEC player. Holmes stepped into a starting role leading a team with four first-year starters and posting the highest assist/turnover ratio (4.81) in the nation.
Holmes also received the Team Academic Award.
Jessika Carter took home the Rookie Award for her efforts on the practice floor, battling McCowan daily. Carter played in all 36 games and was 11th in the SEC in blocks per game (1.0) in the regular season. She rejected a personal-best six shots against Jackson State.
The 6th Player Award went to Bre'Amber Scott, who play in all but one game while averaging 7.1 points. Scott made 42.9 percent of her three-point attempts, which is tied for sixth in Bulldog single-season history. She shot 82.7 percent from the free throw line (62-of-75), which ranks seventh in MSU single-season history.
Xaria Wiggins received the Tommy Nusz Outstanding Bulldog Award. Schaefer also named David and Betty Lynn Hunt the Season's Greatest Fans.
Rookie Award – Jessika Carter
Newcomer Award – Anriel Howard
Most Improved – Jazzmun Holmes and Jordan Danberry
6th Man Award – Bre'Amber Scott
Miss Hustle – Anriel Howard
Miss Defense – Teaira McCowan
Miss Offense – Teaira McCowan
Tommy Nusz Outstanding Bulldog Award – Xaria Wiggins
Most Outstanding Player – Teaira McCowan
Season's Greatest Fan Award – David and Betty Lynn Hunt
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State's women's basketball celebrated its third consecutive 30-win season on Monday night with the team's annual year-end awards banquet.
Teaira McCowan closed her historic career with the Miss Offense, Miss Defense and Most Outstanding Player awards. The senior center was the third overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft and led the team in both scoring and rebounding.
Offensively, McCowan averaged 18.4 points and had the fourth-highest field goal percentage in the nation (66.2 percent), which is an MSU single-season record. She scored in double-figures in 33 of 36 games this season including 16 20-point efforts.
On the other end of the floor, McCowan capped her career with a fourth straight season among the top 10 in MSU history in blocks (87). She led the team in rebounding (13.5 rpg) and was named both the SEC and WBCA Defensive Player of the Year.
McCowan holds the MSU career double-doubles record (70) and had 31 this year alone, breaking her own SEC record of 29 last year.
A second-round pick of the Seattle Storm, Anriel Howard was named the Newcomer of the Year and received the Miss Hustle award. Howard adjusted to Schaefer's system quickly and averaged 15.8 points and 8.8 rebounds in conference play. She collected a dozen double-doubles on the year and earned Honorable Mention All-American honors from the Associated Press.
Jordan Danberry and Jazzmun Holmes were co-winners of the Most Improved award. Danberry raised her scoring output from 2.8 ppg to 13.1 ppg this year, the second-largest increase of any SEC player. Holmes stepped into a starting role leading a team with four first-year starters and posting the highest assist/turnover ratio (4.81) in the nation.
Holmes also received the Team Academic Award.
Jessika Carter took home the Rookie Award for her efforts on the practice floor, battling McCowan daily. Carter played in all 36 games and was 11th in the SEC in blocks per game (1.0) in the regular season. She rejected a personal-best six shots against Jackson State.
The 6th Player Award went to Bre'Amber Scott, who play in all but one game while averaging 7.1 points. Scott made 42.9 percent of her three-point attempts, which is tied for sixth in Bulldog single-season history. She shot 82.7 percent from the free throw line (62-of-75), which ranks seventh in MSU single-season history.
Xaria Wiggins received the Tommy Nusz Outstanding Bulldog Award. Schaefer also named David and Betty Lynn Hunt the Season's Greatest Fans.
Mississippi State Women's Basketball Awards
Team Academic – Jazzmun HolmesRookie Award – Jessika Carter
Newcomer Award – Anriel Howard
Most Improved – Jazzmun Holmes and Jordan Danberry
6th Man Award – Bre'Amber Scott
Miss Hustle – Anriel Howard
Miss Defense – Teaira McCowan
Miss Offense – Teaira McCowan
Tommy Nusz Outstanding Bulldog Award – Xaria Wiggins
Most Outstanding Player – Teaira McCowan
Season's Greatest Fan Award – David and Betty Lynn Hunt
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
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