Sixth-Seeded Lady Bulldogs Open Play At SEC Tournament Against 11th-Seeded Florida
Sixth-seeded Mississippi State leads the overall series with Florida, 17-15. In games played in Gainesville, the Gators lead 8-6 and have won two out of the last five played there. In the last five games in the overall series, MSU holds a 3-2 lead. Florida won both meetings last season. This season's 79-74 win over Florida was State's first win over the Gators since 2004. MSU is 1-2 all-time against Florida in the SEC Tournament. State last faced the Gators in the Tournament a year ago. Florida won 98-83 in North Little Rock, Ark. State is 0-1 all-time as the sixth seed (?€˜05, vs. Arkansas).
State enters the conference tournament ranked tops in league games only in free throw percentage (.753) and three-point field goals made (5.83). The Lady Bulldogs are second in three-point field goal percentage (.348) and third in rebounding offense (39.9). State ranks fourth in two categories ?€“ scoring offense (71.3) and defensive rebounds (26.29) and fifth in three-point field goal percentage defense (.283) and steals (8.71). MState is sixth in offensive rebounds (13.57).
In overall games, the Lady Bulldogs are third in three-point field goal percentage defense (.292), fourth in three-point field goals made (5.83) and sixth in free throw percentage (.680), field goal percentage defense(.390) and offensive rebounds (14.83).
Individually, sophomore guard Marneshia Richard is fifth overall in steals and leads the league in three-point field goal percentage in SEC games only. Also in league games, Richard is third in steals (2.57), fifth in free throw percentage (.806), seventh in field goal percentage(.536) and assists (4.07) and ninth in scoring (14.1). Freshman guard Alexis Rack is second in SEC games only in three-point field goals made (2.64), seventh in free throw percentage (.795) and 14th in scoring(13.4) and is fifth in overall games in three point field goals made (1.97).
Rack was named to the 2007 Southeastern Conference all-SEC Freshman Team, as voted on by the league's coaches. Heading into Thursday's contest, Rack averages 10.4 points per game and ranks fifth in the league in three-point field goals made. She also ranks in the 100 in the country in steals per game and three-point field goals per game. In the month of February, Rack led the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game. She also shot 81.0 percent from the free throw line and currently averages 72.6 from the charity stripe for the entire season.
With 104 assists already on the season, Richard is currently tied for second on the sophomore single season assists list with Julan Harris. Former all-American Tan White sits atop the category with 124 total assists during the 2002-03 season.
Sixth-seeded Florida enters Thursday evening's game at 8-21 on the year and 2-12 in conference games. The Gators have won two out of their last three, having defeated Alabama, 66-64, on Feb. 18 and Kentucky in their regular season finale, 83-79, on Sunday afternoon.
Sha Brooks continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game and currently ranks sixth in the league in scoring. Two other Gators also average double figures with all-SEC second teamer Marshae Dotson tallying 13.8 points and Depree Bowden bringing in 13.3 points each time out. Dotson leads the team in rebounding with 7.5 boards per game.
The winner of Thursday's contest advances to face #3 seed Vanderbilt on Friday evening at 8:30 p.m. CT.