Lady Bulldogs Host Fourth-Ranked Auburn Sunday In
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Coming off a 16-point road win over Ole Miss on Thursday, the Mississippi State women's basketball team returns home Sunday to face fourth-ranked Auburn in the annual "Pink Zone" game in which everyone is encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at the Humphrey Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs (19-6, 6-4 SEC), have won three straight and four of their last five. The 19-6 start matches the second best start in school history matching the 2002-03 squad who reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Mississippi State is led in scoring by junior guard Alexis Rack who is fifth in the Southeastern Conference in scoring, averaging 14.3 points a game. Rack has scored in double figures in six consecutive games and is coming off a 21-point performance against Ole Miss on Thursday.
Junior Armelie Lumanu is averaging 11.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game. Senior Robin Porter paces MSU in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 a game.
Auburn, ranked as high as fourth in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, enters Sunday's game with a 24-1 overall record. The Tigers are 9-1 in SEC play, including a 4-1 mark on the road. Auburn is led by All-American DeWanna Bonner who is averaging 20.8 points and 8.6 rebounds a game. Sophomore guard Alli Smalley is averaging 12.6 points a game while guard Whitney Boddie leads the SEC in assists, dishing out 8.3 a game.
Auburn leads the all-time series 29-12 and have won the last three meetings. Mississippi State's last win came in 2005 when State beat Auburn 75-68 in an overtime game in Starkville.
The WBCA began the Pink Zone, formerly know as "Think Pink", in 2007 as an initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in women's basketball on campus and in communities. In its second year last year, over 1,200 teams and organizations participated, reaching over 830,000 fans and raising over $930,00 for breast cancer awareness and research.
In accordance with the "Pink Zone" game, sponsors include the Center for Breast Health and Imaging, Zeta Tau Alpha sorority who will be handing out pink ribbons and the MSU President's Commission on the Status of Women who will provide headbands, wristbands and shoelaces to the players.