Lady Bulldogs Open SEC Tournament Play With Auburn Thursday
Mississippi State has relied heavily on its defense this season as the Lady Bulldogs are fifth in the league in field goal percentage defense as opponents are shooting just 37.7 percent from the field. Offensively, State is shooting 37.6 percent from the field.
Senior Mary Kathryn Govero is leading the scoring charge, averaging 12.8 points a game. Junior Diamber Johnson is scoring 12.5 points a contest. Junior Ashley Brown is pacing State in rebounds with 8.3 a game which is fifth-best in the SEC. Brown is now averaging 6.2 points a game. Junior Porsha Porter is adding 10.1 points a game.
Auburn enters Thursday's game with a 15-14 overall record, 8-8 in league play. The Tigers are coming off a 76-62 home loss to Kentucky and are 2-3 in their last five games. Auburn is led in scoring by senior guard Alli Smalley who is 18th in the SEC in scoring, averaging 12.1 points a game. Sophomore Blanch Alverson is averaging 10.9 points a contest. Head coach Nell Fortner is in her seventh season with Auburn.
In 31 years at the SEC Tournament, Mississippi State has an all-time record of 13-31. Mississippi State's best finish was in 2000 when they reached the finals in Chattanooga, Tenn. Last season, Mississippi State reached the semifinals as the #3 seed, defeating Georgia before falling to Kentucky. State has reached the semifinals three times.
Mississippi State and Auburn will meet for the third time this season when they meet Thursday night in Nashville. Auburn won the first meeting on Jan. 20 while State defeated Auburn on Feb. 6. In the series, Auburn holds a 32-14 advantage while each team has won a game on a neutral court.
In the last meeting in Auburn, Ala., Mississippi State won a 57-45 decision over the Tigers. The Lady Bulldogs, who led by one at the half, shot 38 percent from the field while holding AU to just 33 percent shooting. Porsha Porter had 21 points to lead the way while Mary Kathryn Govero added 12.