Lady Bulldogs Host Auburn On Senior Day Sunday
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State will bid farewell to eight seniors on Sunday as they play their last home game at the Humphrey Coliseum when they take on Auburn. Tip time is set for 2 p.m. Alexis Rack, Armelie Lumanu, Tysheka Grimes, Chanel Mokango, Rima Kalonda, Channa Campbell, Bethany Washington, Marneshia Richard and student manager Christie Thomas will all be honored before the game.
The Lady Bulldogs (17-9, 8-5 SEC), have won two straight games and three of their last four coming into Sunday. Most recently, the Lady Bulldogs are coming off a 73-54 win over Ole Miss last Sunday in Starkville despite the absence of leading scorer Rack who was out with a foot injury.
Currently, State is in sole possession of third place in the SEC standings with three games to play. Rack paces Mississippi State, averaging 19.0 points a game. Four other Lady Bulldogs are averaging double figure scoring including Lumanu (12.6), Grimes (11.4), Mary Kathryn Govero (11.3) and Mokango (10.5). As a team, Mississippi State continues to rank fourth in the league in scoring offense, fifth in scoring defense, first in 3-point FG pct. defense, fourth in assists and second in steals.
Auburn enters Sunday's matchup with a 12-14 overall record, 3-10 in SEC play. The Tigers have lost four straight and are currently 11th in the SEC Standings. Head Coach Nell Fortner is in her seventh year at Auburn. Junior guard Alli Smalley paces the Tigers, averaging 15.0 points a game. Senior center KeKe Carrier is scoring 13.0 points a game. As a team, Auburn ranks 12th in the league in scoring offense and seventh in scoring defense.
The Lady Bulldogs and Tigers have met 43 previous times dating back to 1977. Auburn holds a 30-13 advantage in the series. With its win over Auburn earlier this season, State snapped a four game losing skid to the Tigers. With a win on Sunday, State would have a two-game winning streak for the first time since 2003. The Lady Bulldogs are 9-11 all time against Auburn in Starkville.
Following Sunday's game, Mississippi State will close out its regular season with two road games as they take on Alabama on Feb. 25 in Tuscaloosa before traveling to Baton Rouge on Feb. 28 to battle LSU.