Lady Bulldogs Set To Clash With Georgia On Sunday
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Looking for their fourth win in six conference home games on the year, the Mississippi State women’s basketball team (15-10, 3-7 Southeastern Conference) plays host to Georgia (18-7, 5-5 SEC) on Sunday afternoon as part of alumni weekend. Tipoff between the Lady Bulldogs and UGA is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at Humphrey Coliseum.
Mississippi State is looking to improve on an 12-3 record at home this year. The Lady Bulldogs have won three out of five against SEC foes, besting Florida, 83-71 in their previous game at Humphrey Coliseum.
MSU’s last victory over Georgia came during the 2003 season in a 76-71 ballgame. UGA took last year’s meeting between the two schools, 74-61, in Starkville.
The meeting between Mississippi State and UGA features MSU Head Coach Sharon Fanning and Georgia Head Coach Andy Landers, who are among two of the longest tenured coaches in the Southeastern Conference. Fanning has coached for 34 years, while Landers is not far behind with 33 years of coaching experience. Fanning is looking to improve on a 6-10 record against Landers while at Mississippi State.
As the leading offensive rebounding team in the SEC, Mississippi State enters the game coming off an up and down week. The Lady Bulldogs defeated a tough Florida team, 83-71, last Sunday before losing at Mississippi on Thursday night. MSU is led by sophomores Alexis Rack and Tysheka Grimes. Rack leads the team with 12 points per game, while Grimes is the leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per contest. Junior guard Marneshia Richard has also played solid basketball for Mississippi State, leading the team with 4.9 assists and two steals a ballgame.
State will be without the services of sophomore Bethany Washington indefinitely after an ankle injury in the game against Mississippi Thursday night.
Georgia enters the matchup with State winning two out of their last three after dropping three straight contests on the season. Looking to improve on their 5-5 conference road record, UGA is led by senior forward Tasha Humphrey. Humphrey leads the Lady Bulldogs, averaging 17.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest.
Following the matchup with Georgia, Mississippi State travels to South Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 21. Tipoff between the Lady Bulldogs and Gamecocks is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.