State Women To Face Alabama Thursday In 6 p.m. Televised Contest From Tuscaloosa
In Sunday's 84-86 overtime loss to archrival Mississippi, freshman forward Tysheka Grimes blocked four Ole Miss shots on Sunday to tie the freshman record for most blocks in a single game (Sharon Thompson - 1994 and Cara Stokes - 2x in 1984). Grimes is tied for third on the all-time list in the category, sharing the honor with Ann Sanders (1987), Cara Stokes (3x in 1984 and 1987), Pam Jones (1983), Sandra Butler (1983), Polly Branch (1983) and Mamie McKinney (2005). She also tied her season high with 11 rebounds against the Lady Rebels.
Freshman guard Alexis Rack collided with Ole Miss senior Armintie Price with 15:39 remaining in Sunday's game. Rack left the game to receive stitches and returned with less than eight minutes remaining. However, she only played one possession following her return. In only 23 minutes against the Lady Rebels, Rack netted her ninth consecutive double-digit scoring game with 14 points. If she reaches double figures on Thursday, she'll become the first Lady Bulldog since Tan White to have 10 straight double-digit scoring games.
As a team, MState is third overall in three-point field goal percentage defense (.293), fourth in three-point field goals made (5.70), fifth in offensive boards (15.07) and sixth in field goal percentage (.388). In league games only, State is in the top half of eight statistical categories, including being second in three-point field goal percentage (.348).
Sophomore guard Marneshia Richard is fifth in the league in steals per game (2.41), while Rack is fifth in three-point field goals made (1.89). In SEC games only, Richard is third in steals (2.58), sixth in field goal percentage (.538) and free-throw percentage (.810), seventh in assists (4.25) and ninth in scoring (14.3). Rack is second in three-point field goals made (2.58), third in free-throw percentage(.833) and seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.378).
Alabama enters Thursday night's contest seeking their first conference win of the season. At 0-12 in league play, Alabama is 10-17 overall on the year. The Crimson Tide fell to Florida on Sunday at home, 66-64. In Sunday's game against Florida, freshman center Talisha Chandler led the way for Alabama with her fourth double-double this season with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Senior guard/forward Navonda Moore added a team-high 24 points, while senior guard Kate Mastin added 10 points.
Moore leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per game. Mastin is second on the team in scoring with 12.6 points each time out. Chandler leads the Tide in rebounding, bringing down 6.9 boards per game.
Alabama won their last game on Dec. 30, 2006, 78-53, over North Dakota State. Since then, the Crimson Tide has dropped 12 straight league games. The Crimson Tide has defeated previous MSU opponents Southeastern Louisiana (60-57) and Savannah State (102-48).
MSU is 19-34 all-time on television. In MState's only other televised contests this season, the Lady Bulldogs fell to Georgia 61-74, defeated Arkansas, 80-75 and won at Florida, 79-74 on Feb. 11. State is 1-0 when playing on FSN this year (and 1-0 with Van Chancellor and Leah Secondo calling the game). All-time on FSN, MState is 9-14. State and Alabama have never faced each other in a televised contest.
Following Thursday's game, the Lady Bulldogs close out the regular season on Sunday at South Carolina. Tipoff from the Colonial Center in Columbia is set for 2 p.m. CT. The 2007 Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament is slated for March 1-4 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga.