Lady Bulldogs Face Buckeyes Tuesday In NCAA Second Round
- Monday's Press Conference Quotes
PITTSBURGH, PA. - The Mississippi State women's basketball team will take to the court once again on Tuesday, facing Ohio State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. The 7-seed Lady Bulldogs advanced to face the 2-seed Buckeyes after a 68-64 win over Middle Tennessee in the first round on Sunday. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. CT where the winner will advance to play in Dayton next weekend in the regional semifinal.
The Lady Bulldogs (20-12), overcame a 15-point deficit in the first half and a nine-point deficit in the final five minutes against Middle Tennessee to claim their fifth-straight second round appearance while in the NCAA Tournament. Senior Alexis Rack led the way for State against the Blue Raiders, scoring 21 points on four three-point baskets. Senior forward Chanel Mokango added 20 points and 14 rebounds in an effort that saw Mississippi State score the game's final 13 points.
Rack continues to lead MSU in scoring, averaging 17.2 points a game. State also puts four other players in double-figure scoring. Senior Armelie Lumanu is averaging 12.3 points a game while Tysheka Grimes is scoring 11.5 a contest. Chanel Mokango is averaging 11.1 a game and Mary Kathryn Govero has a 10.8 average. Senior first-team All-SEC selection Rack leads State in assists, averaging 4.6 a game. Mokango leads the Lady Bulldogs in rebounding, pulling down 7.3 a game. Lumanu leads MSU and was second in the conference in steals, averaging 2.5 a game.
The Big Ten regular season and tournament champions, Ohio State enters Tuesday night's contest with a 31-4 mark. The Buckeyes are led in scoring and rebounding by All-American Jantel Lavender who is averaging 21.5 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. Sophomore guard Samantha Prahalis is adding 16.4 points a game and has 283 assists this season. Head coach Jim Foster is in his eighth season at Ohio State.
Having faced off against each other last season in the NCAA Second Round, the Buckeyes edged State 64-58 in the only meeting ever between the two schools.