February 2005 MSU Basketball Skuttle-Butt

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02/22/05
Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (16-9, 5-7 SEC) close out their regular season this Sunday, Feb. 27 with a 3 p.m. CT match up vs. Auburn on "Senior Day". The game time was moved an hour later to accommodate a 12:30 p.m. baseball game vs. Eastern Illinois.

ATLANTA, Ga. - Lady Bulldog senior guard Tan White was named as one of the top 30 midseason candidates for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. The nation's leading scorer (as of Feb. 14) is credited to leading her team to two recent back-to-back wins vs. Mississippi and Kentucky as the regular season winds down.

Averaging 22.8 points per game, the 5-7 guard has also been tabbed a midseason candidate for the John R. Wooden Award, a Senior CLASS Nominee, named to the Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence "Watch List" and a preseason State Farm Wade Trophy candidate.

White joins fellow SEC players Seimone Augustus and Temeka Johnson of LSU, Ashley Earley of Vanderbilt and Shyra Ely of Tennessee on the tailored list.

The Top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its criteria on player performances this season. The list was narrowed down from the preseason list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season.

As part of its involvement, Cingular is making this year's selection process unique. For the first time, college basketball fans have a voice in deciding who wins the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless through the power and ease of wireless text messaging.

These players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the Naismith Trophy are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors.

Last year's Naismith Trophy recipient was the University of Connecticut's guard Diana Taurasi. Other notable women's college player of the year winners include Cheryl Miller, Rebecca Lobo, Sheryl Swoopes, Chamique Holdsclaw and Dawn Staley.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/21/05
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Mississippi State University women's basketball team (16-9, 5-7 SEC) won its second consecutive contest by defeating the Kentucky Wildcats (14-13, 3-9 SEC) Sunday afternoon in Lexington, Ky. Senior guard Tan White led all scorers with 23 points, marking the 36th straight contest where she has tallied a double digit scoring total.

"With about three minutes to go in the first half we picked up the intensity," said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning. "We were much more aggressive. We took that into the locker room and came back out in the second half and found a way to win a big ball game. The biggest thing was poise down the stretch. We played hard and smart. We took care of the ball better in the second half and forced more turnovers on their end."

Junior forward Mamie McKinney scored the game's first basket on a layup at 19:47. After a defensive battle kept both team scoreless for over a minute, senior forward Rebecca Kates put MSU up 5-0 on a trey at the 18:28 mark. Kentucky fought back, going on a 6-0 run to jump out ahead by one with 14:53 remaining in the period. Junior guard/forward Blessing Chekwa put State back out in front by one after making two free throws at the 14:36 mark. Defense again marred the game's next two minutes as the Wildcats went up 10-7 before McKinney tied the game after scoring off of a steal and a free throw. With 8:19 remaining in the period, Kentucky held a 15-12 lead before senior guard Tiania Burns' jumper at 7:26 put the Lady Bulldogs back up by one. For the last six minutes of the period, the lead swapped hands four times. MSU held on to take the slim 27-23 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

White opened the second period scoring two consecutive baskets to put MSU up by eight with 19:38 remaining and held that advantage at the 15:58 mark. MSU began to pull away with a jumper by White at 14:34. With 13:02 left to play, State held on to a 10-point lead before Kentucky trimmed it to just seven midway through the half. UK fought back to within eight with just under nine minutes remaining in the game. However, the Lady Bulldogs rebounded with key shots from Chekwa, White, and two critical three-pointers from Kates to give MSU the 61-45 advantage with 4:59 left to play. In the game's closing minutes, McKinney, Warren, and White all hit baskets to give MSU the 71-55 win.

In addition to White's 23 points, Kates posted 13, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field including three three-pointers. McKinney netted 11 in the win. As a team, MSU shot 12-for-14 from the free throw line for 85 percent, with Chekwa going 5-for-6 from the stripe. Behind five treys made on the afternoon, MSU shot 50 percent from behind the arc compared to Kentucky's nine.

Sarah Elliott led the Wildcats with 14 points, while Sara Potts added 11.

The Lady Bulldogs stay on the road for their next contest. MSU travels to sixth-ranked Tennessee on Thursday night for a 6 p.m. CT contest in Knoxville.

GAME NOTES
-White has scored in double digits in 36 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season.
-MSU leads the series 15-14. Although MSU is 5-7 in Lexington, State has won the last four straight meetings in the series, including the defeat in Starkville earlier this season, and the last 10 of 11 encounters.
-Head coach Sharon Fanning is 10-4 vs. Kentucky in her 10th season at State. MSU was 5-10 prior to the Fanning era.
-Today's win marks the first MSU road win in the SEC since opening up conference play at South Carolina on Jan. 6 (55-48).
-Head coach Sharon Fanning is eight wins shy of 500 career wins.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/19/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Serving as the nightcap of this year's first annual "SEC East-West Challenge," the Mississippi State Bulldogs (18-7, 6-5) head to Lexington to meet the third-ranked Kentucky Wildcats (19-3, 10-1) Saturday evening at 23,000-seat Rupp Arena. Tip-off for the 99th all-time series meeting between these two defending Southeastern Conference divisional champions is set for 9 p.m. ET. The contest will be televised live by ESPN, with Brad Nessler calling the play-by-play action, Dick Vitale providing the color analysis and Erin Andrews serving as the game's sideline reporter. Rupp Arena will also be serving as the site for ESPN's College GameDay activities on Saturday.

For the first time in SEC men's basketball history, Saturday's "SEC East-West Challenge" will feature all 12 conference teams taking the court in six interdivisional games on the same day. With the East holding a 13-11 lead over the West this season, the East has won the divisional series in nine of the 13 years that the SEC has been split into divisions.

Having evenly split their last 10 decisions with alternating wins and losses dating back to their 87-76 road win at Mississippi on Jan. 8, coach Rick Stansbury's 18-7 Bulldogs will be looking for their 10th consecutive bounce-back win (winning after a loss) over the last two seasons this weekend after dropping an 80-72 home decision to LSU this past Wednesday. The eight-point setback to the Tigers snapped State's 12-game home winning streak that had dated back to last February. Once owners of an NCAA-best, 16-game road winning streak, the Bulldogs are now seeking to halt a four-game SEC road losing skid after having dropped consecutive league road decisions to Tennessee, Alabama, LSU and Auburn this year. Winless in three attempts against Top 25 teams on the season, MSU will search for its first victory over a ranked foe since knocking off No. 22 South Carolina (79-75 in OT) and No. 17 Florida (79-68) both on the road a season ago.

Statistically as a team this season, Mississippi State maintains its league lead in rebounding offense (41.1 rpg) and rebounding margin (+9.0 rpg) after outrebounding its 21st opponent in 25 games on the year, including 10 of 11 conference foes. Ranked fourth nationally in rebound margin as of this week's NCAA statistical rankings, the Bulldogs are bidding for their unprecedented fifth consecutive SEC rebounding margin team statistical title.

Individually, the Bulldogs continue to be led by reigning SEC Player of the Year Lawrence Roberts, who tops the conference in rebounding (11.3 rpg) and trails only Florida's Anthony Roberson (18.3 to 17.8 ppg) in the league's scoring race. With his 13 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday's home loss to LSU, Roberts leads all active NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 52 career double-doubles, including an SEC-high 14 double-double efforts on the season. Back in action after sitting out eight games nursing a fractured bone in his left foot, senior guard Winsome Frazier is averaging 13.1 points per game after tallying 11 points off the bench against LSU this week in his first game action since Jan. 8. The hottest player for the Bulldogs right now is senior swingman Shane Power, who has raised his season's scoring average to 11.1 points per game after averaging 18.0 points over his last four outings. While earning team scoring honors each of the last four games, Power is currently ranked second in the league in three-point field goal percentage (48.9%) in conference games only after hitting 59 percent (19-of-32) of his 3-pointers over the last half-dozen contests.

Ranked third nationally this week in both major Top 25 polls, the Kentucky Wildcats currently sport a 19-3 overall record and 10-1 conference mark after dropping their first league decision of the year with Tuesday's 73-61 setback at South Carolina. Bidding to secure their 15th consecutive 20-win season, the Wildcats currently lead the league in scoring defense (59.6 ppg), field-goal percentage defense (40.1%), steals (9.45 spg) and turnover margin (+5.73). Guided by eighth-year head coach Tubby Smith, UK's only other losses on the year have come at home to Kansas (65-59 on Jan. 9) and at North Carolina (91-78 on Dec. 4). With all five starters averaging 8.4 points or better for the season, Kentucky is led in scoring by junior Kelenna Azubuike (14.2 ppg). Junior guard Patrick Sparks averages 11.1 points and a team-leading 4.2 assists per contest, while senior forward Chuck Hayes adds 10.6 points a game and ranks tied for third in the SEC in rebounding (8.7 rpg).

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/18/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State University women's basketball team (15-9, 4-7 SEC) snapped its six-game losing streak by defeating archrival Mississippi (16-8, 6-5 SEC), 61-52, on Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum. Senior guard Tan White tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season and the 22nd of her career. With her one block in the first half, White surpassed former Lady Bulldog LaToya Thomas to take over first place in that MSU career category.

"It was a very physical game," said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning. "Doceide (Warren) made some good decisions tonight. She was able to get the ball inside and to the bucket really well. She took advantage of mismatches really well. She did a great job in transition tonight, too. This was a great win for us."

MSU senior guard Tiania Burns scored the game's opening basket with 18:01 on the clock. The Lady Rebels tied the game on their next possession before State rattled off an 8-0 run to jump out 10-2 with 16:17 remaining in the period. From there, Mississippi was unable to stop the Lady Bulldogs' scoring attack. After two Armintie Price free throws and basket by Carletta Brown, State answered the Lady Rebels with an 11-0 run to extend the lead to 17 at 23-6 midway through the half. Junior guard Doceide Warren netted consecutive layups at 6:24 and 5:27 to give MSU its largest lead of the half at 21. Using a solid defensive effort, including four blocked shots in the first period, the Lady Bulldogs held Mississippi to nine points in the last 10 minutes of the half. MSU scored 16 of its first half points off of 11 Lady Rebel turnovers and 18 points in the paint to take a 35-15 lead into the locker room at the break. UM's 15 points were the lowest point total State has held an opponent to in the first half this season.

State held a 24-point advantage at 17:45 and again as late as the11:28 mark of the second period before the Lady Rebels cut that lead to less than 20 with 10:34 left to play. Mississippi chipped away at the MSU lead through the latter part of the period. With 4:53 left in the game, Price's jumper pulled the Lady Rebels to within 14. In a span of three minutes, Mississippi used a 7-0 run to cut the Lady Bulldogs' lead to nine with 3:13 remaining in the game. In the game's closing minutes, State got key free throws from Burns and junior forward Mamie McKinney and a basket from senior guard Ebonie Ferguson to hold off the Lady Rebels, 61-52.

"We came out tonight, knowing this was a big game," said White. "We came out focused and played the best first half we have played in a long time. It was a good win for us."

Price led Mississippi with 15 points, while Elizabeth Cansdale recorded 11.

Burns led all scorers with 15, while Warren scored a season-high 14 points.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 20, when MSU travels to Lexington, Ky. to face the Kentucky Wildcats in a 2 p.m. CT contest on SEC-TV.

GAME NOTES
-White has scored in double digits in 35 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season.
-MSU tallied a team season-high seven blocked shots.
-Mississippi leads the series 56-12. MSU is 7-24 in Starkville and has taken six out of the eight meetings at home. Tonight's win marks MSU's first win in the series since the 2003-04 season.

Source: MSU Media Relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Reigning SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Shane Power of Mississippi State University has been voted to the 2005 Academic All-District VI Men's Basketball Team, as released Thursday.

Power is joined on this year's Academic All-District VI Team, comprised of nominated players hailing from universities within the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, by fellow SEC standout Brandon Bass of LSU, New Mexico's Troy DeVries, Eric Castro of SMU and Lamar's Jason Grant.

Power will now be included on the 40-player national ballot, consisting of five individual recipients from each of the eight districts across the country, to determine this year's ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team, as selected by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). The five-man University Division team will be announced on March 2.

Recently named to this year's 25-player 'watch list' for the third annual Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence for his athletic and academic achievements, Power is also a member of the 2004-05 SEC Good Works Team for his community involvement. The Crown Point, Ind., native achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in his first semester of graduate school last fall after earning his undergraduate degree in sports communication last summer.

On the court, State's senior tri-captain is the team's No. 3 scorer (11.1 ppg) and second-leading playmaker (2.5 apg) for the season in addition to averaging 4.0 rebounds per game for coach Rick Stansbury's 18-7 Bulldogs. Coming off his MSU career-high, 20-point effort this week against LSU, Power has earned team scoring honors each of the last four contests while averaging 18.0 points during that four-game stretch. Having hit 59 percent (19-of-32) of his 3-pointers over the last half-dozen outings in raising his season's three-point shooting percentage to 42.0 percent on the year, the former Iowa State transfer ranks as Mississippi State's all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage both for a career (44.5%) and single season (48.1% last year).

Created in 1952 by CoSIDA, the Academic All-America Teams Program recognizes 816 student-athletes annually in Division I, II, III, NAIA and Canadian Colleges, covering all NCAA championship sports. To be eligible for the program, a student-athlete must: 1) Have minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA on a 4.00 scale; 2) Be a starter or key reserve on a varsity athletic team; and 3) Have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/17/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (14-9, 3-7 SEC) host the Mississippi Lady Rebels (16-7, 6-4 SEC) in the second meeting this season on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. CT. Ole Miss took the meeting in Oxford earlier this season, 72-64. Despite trailing in the overall series, 11-56, State has taken five out of the last seven outings in Starkville.

State is looking to end its six-game losing streak. Three of the losses have come to top 25 teams and five of the six losses have not exceeded 11 points. Most recently, the Lady Bulldogs fell at Florida, 67-56. The nation's leading scorer senior guard Tan White tallied the second fewest points of her season with 14 in the loss. Junior guard Doceide Warren posted 10 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Ebonie Ferguson went three-for-five from three-point land for nine points vs. the Gators.

Since the last meeting, Ole Miss has gone 2-2 in the conference with its most recent win over Alabama, 68-54. Sophomore guard Armintie Price continues to lead the Lady Rebels with 15.7 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game. Senior center Amber Watts is averaging 12.2 ppg and 7.0 rpg.

In the meeting earlier this season, the Lady Rebels dominated from behind the arc totaling 10 three-pointers, with guidance from senior guard Elizabeth Cansdale's six made. State made more trips to the free throw going 12-of-18 compared to UM's 6-of-15. MSU still has the upper hand overall in 3-point percentage averaging 35.2 percent, sixth best in the league. State is tops in the league in made three-pointers averaging 7.40 pg.

Ole Miss leads the series, 56-11, including the defeat in Oxford (72-64) earlier this season. MSU is 6-24 in Starkville but has taken five out of the last seven meetings at home. The Lady Rebels swept the two-game series last year including the last meeting Feb. 8, 2004 in Starkville (78-62).

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/15/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - One of only nine schools nationally, and the only member of the Southeastern Conference, with both a male and female candidate represented, Mississippi State University seniors Shane Power and Tan White have been named to the 'Watch List' for the third annual Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence presented by Creamland Dairies.

The award recognizes collegiate seniors for their athletic and academic achievements as well as their contributions and involvement within their local communities. The collegiate nominees will be narrowed down to 10 respective semi-finalists next month, while the three finalists on each side will be named during the upcoming NCAA Tournaments and be presented in Albuquerque, N.M., on April 12.

The reigning SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Power is a member of the 2004-05 SEC Good Works Team for his community involvement. The Crown Point, Ind., native achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average in his first semester of graduate school last fall after earning his undergraduate degree in sports communication last summer. On the court, Power is presently averaging 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game for coach Rick Stansbury's 18-6 Bulldogs. Power joins Kentucky forward Chuck Hayes as the only two representatives from the SEC selected to the 25-player list on the men's side.

Currently leading the nation in scoring with 23.2 points per game, White stands alone as the only player hailing from the SEC to be nominated as one of the nation's 36 female finalists. The Tupelo native has led coach Sharon Fanning's Lady Bulldogs to a 14-9 overall record, including a school-record 12 straight wins earlier this year. Also tabbed as a midseason Wooden Award candidate, White has tallied 34 consecutive double-digit scoring performances, including her career-high, 47-point outing against Vanderbilt. With 357 career steals to her credit, she is also three steals shy of becoming the all-time career steals leader in the Southeastern Conference.

Joining Mississippi State with both male and female nominees for the 2004-05 Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence presented by Creamland Dairies are Arizona, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, New Mexico, Weber State, Columbia, Oral Roberts and Delaware.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/14/05
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The Mississippi State University women's basketball team (14-9, 3-7 SEC) dropped its sixth straight contest on Sunday afternoon with a 67-56 loss to the Florida Gators (14-10, 5-6 SEC). Senior guard Tan White led MSU with 14 points to stretch her consecutive double-digit point games to 34. Junior guard Doceide Warren added 10 for MSU.

"I was really pleased with how hard we played in the second half," said MSU head coach Sharon Fanning. "We executed in other aspects of the game. We saw a game of two different halves today. We have to attack the game initially. We came back but couldn't manage it after that. It was a one-point ball game, and we didn't contest a three. The value of each possession is very important, and we didn't do that."

Florida opened the game strong, going on a 11-0 run before MSU was able to get on the board with a jumper from senior forward Rebecca Kates. State cut the Gator lead back to nine at 15:54 with a shot from White. From there, Florida went on a 9-0 run to jump out by 17 with 12:38 to play in the half. On MSU's next possession, Burns scored to cut the UF lead to 15 before a timeout at 11:39. A defensive battle eclipsed the next minute of the game before Florida rallied in the second part of the half to jump out by as much as 20 with 6:52 left to play. The Gators continued that dominance throughout the rest of the period and took a 35-17 lead into the locker room at the intermission.

After Florida scored the second period's first two baskets, MSU took charge of the game. Thanks to a good defensive effort of forcing nine Florida turnovers and getting the Gators into early foul trouble in the half's first five minutes, State's offense tallied a 20-3 run to cut the Florida lead to just three at the 10:10 mark. Coming out of a timeout, the Gators regained composure, extending the lead back out to as many as seven with just over eight minutes left to play. With 6:29 remaining in the game, a layup by Warren pulled MSU to within one, but Florida was too strong in the closing minutes. The Gators went on a 14-4 run to go up by 10 before Kates hit a three with 41 seconds remaining. In the end it was not enough as Florida took the 67-56 win.

Tashia Morehead led the Gators with 19, while Bernice Mosby netted 17.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, Feb. 17, when MSU hosts arch rival Mississippi in a 7 p.m. contest at Humphrey Coliseum.

GAME NOTES
-White has scored in double digits in 34 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season.
-Despite today's loss, MSU leads the series with Florida 16-13. The loss snaps State's four game win streak in the series. The Lady Bulldogs are 5-8 overall in Gainesville.
-State has now lost six straight games, four straight on the road. The last time State won on the road in SEC competition was in the conference season opener at South Carolina on Jan. 3, 55-48. The last time an MSU team lost five SEC games in a row was Jan. 18-Feb. 4, 2001.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/12/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Set to play consecutive home SEC games for the first and only time this season, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (17-6, 5-4) begin a two-game homestand by playing host to the Vanderbilt Commodores (14-9, 4-5) Saturday evening on the MSU campus. Tip-off time for the 110th series meeting between the two inter-divisional foes is set for 6 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum. The contest will be televised live by FSN South/Sunshine Network, with Bob Rathbun calling the play-by-play action and former Vanderbilt standout Barry Booker providing the color analysis.

En route to making a school-record 18 regular-season television appearances this season, Mississippi State will close out its brief two-game homestand by welcoming the LSU Tigers and the Jefferson-Pilot crew to "The Hump" for next Wednesday's 7 p.m. contest. Six of MSU's remaining seven regular-season contests are set for either national or regional television coverage, including next Saturday's ESPN contest at Kentucky (9 p.m. ET).

Continuing to just receive votes in both Top 25 national polls, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs enter their homestand sporting a 17-6 overall record and 5-4 conference mark after dropping a 90-76 decision at Auburn last Saturday. MSU has now lost four straight SEC road games after once owning an NCAA-leading, 16-game road winning streak earlier in the year. Seeking their ninth consecutive bounce-back win (winning after a loss) over the last two seasons, the Bulldogs have evenly split their last eight decisions of the year with alternating wins and losses dating back to their 87-76 road win over rival Mississippi on Jan. 8.

Currently sporting an 11-game home winning streak that spans back to last February, Mississippi State remains undefeated in nine home outings on the season. Most recently, the Bulldogs claimed a key 71-57 home triumph over the Florida Gators on Feb. 1. With four regular-season home contests left on the schedule, this year's State squad is attempting to become the first MSU team to close out a perfect home slate since Humphrey Coliseum opened in time for the 1975-76 season. The last Bulldog club to go undefeated at home for an entire season was coach Babe McCarthy's 1962-63 SEC Championship contingent.

Statistically as a team, the Bulldogs remain atop the conference leaders in both rebounding margin (+8.9 rpg; 5th in the NCAA) and rebounding offense (41.2 rpg) after having outrebounded 19 of 23 opponents on the season. Despite allowing Auburn to shoot 60 percent from the field in last Saturday's 14-point setback on the Plains, MSU still enters the weekend's action ranked second in the SEC in field-goal percentage defense (40.0%) for all games.

While awaiting the return of senior guard Winsome Frazier, who's been out of action for the past seven games (3-4 MSU record in that span) with a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, Mississippi State continues to rely largely on the inside presence of National Player of the Year candidate Lawrence Roberts and the all-around play of reigning SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Shane Power. A midseason top-30 candidate for both the Wooden Award and Naismith Trophy, Roberts narrowly trails Florida's Anthony Roberson (18.4 to 18.2 ppg) in the SEC's scoring race and comfortably ascends the league's rebounding chart (11.1 rpg; 7th in the NCAA). Averaging 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists an outing on the campaign, Power is coming off back-to-back games in which he has both matched his season scoring high and led his team with 18 points against both Florida and Auburn.

Hailing as one of the most balanced teams in the Southeastern Conference this season, the Commodores of Vanderbilt University are 14-9 overall on the year and 4-5 in league play. Guided by sixth-year head coach Kevin Stallings, Vandy most recently claimed a 90-54 home win over Texas-Pan American this past Monday after dropping an 84-70 home decision to Kentucky this past Saturday. Featuring seven players averaging 6.5 points or better per game, along with having 10 different players averaging at least 13.9 minutes of game action, the Commodores are led in scoring (12.8 ppg) and assists (3.8 apg) by junior guard Mario Moore. Senior swingman Corey Smith averages 11.8 points and a team-best 4.5 rebounds per contest, while 7-2 senior Dawid Przybyszewski of Poland adds 8.1 points and 4.0 boards a game. As a team, Vanderbilt leads the SEC in three-point percentage (40.8%; 10th in the NCAA), made 3-pointers per game (10.0 treys/gm; 2nd in the NCAA behind Troy) and assists (16.7 apg; 25th in the NCAA).

Source: MSU Media Relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (14-8, 3-6 SEC) hit the road after a week off to face the Florida Gators (13-10, 4-6 SEC) in Gainesville on Sunday, Feb. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. State is looking to snap its five-game losing streak and get its first win on the road since the conference season opener at South Carolina on Jan. 3 (55-48). State is 1-3 in the SEC on the road this season and Florida is 1-3 when hosting conference opponents.

With a week to prepare for Sunday's game, the Lady Bulldogs are searching for answers to get out of their late season slump. With a 3-6 SEC record, MSU sits in a tie for eighth place in the league with Kentucky and Auburn with just five games left in the season. State is shooting 38 percent from the floor, 34 percent from behind the arc and 71 percent from the free throw line in the last five games. Three of the five losses have come to top 25 teams.

Senior guard Tan White continues to lead the nation and the SEC with 23.6 points per game. She posted a game-high 20 points (18 in the second half) in the loss to No. 1 LSU last Sunday. Despite only scoring a history low nine points in the first half vs. LSU, State came out the second half and out scored the Lady Tigers, 31-30.

MSU has been playing without junior guard/forward Blessing Chekwa for the last two games, three total this season, due to a sprained joint capsule in her left knee. Her absence was felt in all three games as Mississippi State was out rebounded by an average of 17.0 rebounds per game. In the 19 other games Chekwa has played in, State is only being out rebounded by .05 boards a game.

Florida snapped its five-game losing streak with a 70-59 victory at Kentucky. The Gators had not won a game since Jan. 16 win over South Carolina. Junior forward Bernice Mosby is leading the Gators with 15.6 ppg and 8.4 rpg while senior guard Tamia Williams is averaging 12.5 ppg.

MSU leads the overall series with Florida, 16-12. The Lady Bulldogs have won the last four straight meetings, two of which were in Gainesville. UF holds a 7-5 record in Gainesville. The last time Florida won was Jan. 4, 2001 in Starkville, 82-70.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/9/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Continuing to lead the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and rebounding, Mississippi State senior forward Lawrence Roberts has been named as a mid-season candidate for the Naismith Trophy presented by Cingular Wireless. The top 30 list of the country's best collegiate men's basketball players was announced Tuesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Entering the week pacing the SEC with career-high averages of 18.2 points and 11.1 rebounds per contest (7th in the NCAA), Roberts is attempting to become the first player since former LSU All-American and current NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (1990-91) to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding during the same season. The reigning SEC Player of the Year also currently ranks fifth in the conference in field-goal percentage (47.7%) and eighth in steals (1.8 spg).

A native of Houston, Texas, Roberts continues to rank first among all active NCAA Division I players with 50 career double-doubles, including an SEC-high 12 double-doubles this season, and 1,054 career rebounds. Having also already been named to the Wooden Award Midseason All-American Team this season, Roberts ranks 11th nationally among active players with 1,782 career points.

Seeking to become the first repeat SEC Player of the Year performer since former Arkansas All-American Corliss Williamson (1993-94 & 1994-95), Roberts was named SEC Player of the Week for two straight weeks (Dec. 26 & Jan. 2) earlier this season and has now claimed the league's weekly honor four times in his two seasons at Mississippi State.

The top 30 list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The list was narrowed down from the pre-season list of 50 candidates who were announced at the beginning of the season. The 6-8, 240-pound Roberts is one of two SEC players named to this year's mid-season list of Naismith Trophy candidates, joining Alabama junior forward Kennedy Winston.

Beginning this Saturday (Feb. 12), CBS' "Cingular at the Half" will feature a weekly Naismith Trophy Watch highlighting the players in contention. These players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March when four finalists for the award are announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club's Board of Selectors.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/7/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State University women's basketball team (14-8, 3-6 SEC) fell to the No. 1 ranked LSU Lady Tigers (21-1, 8-0 SEC) 67-40, Sunday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum. Senior guard Tan White posted her 33rd consecutive game in double digits, with her game-high 20 points, 18 of which were tallied in the second half.

After the Lady Tigers scored the contest's first basket, junior forward Mamie McKinney tied the game on a jumper. State then took a slim 6-2 lead on baskets by junior guard Doceide Warren and White. LSU rebounded to take the lead at 8-6 on a layup by Temeka Johnson with 14:18 to play. Senior guard Ebonie Ferguson nailed a three-pointer with 13:56 on the clock to put MSU up at 9-8. However, the Lady Tigers used a 29-0 run to take a 37-9 lead into the locker room at the break.

"We got up 9-8 early and the game was on the line," said head coach Sharon Fanning. "We had an intentional foul and they had a layup in transition. All of a sudden we were down big. We had some unnecessary turnovers and they were just getting all of the rebounds early. We are going to evaluate this game and move on. This is a good time for a break (on off week). It will be a good week to improve on some things that we are lacking right now."

State's nine points were the fewest scored by an MSU team in a half. The previous low was 11 posted earlier in the season against Saint Joseph's. The Lady Bulldogs shot just 14 percent from the floor and nine percent from behind the arc in the first stanza. The Lady Tigers were 55 percent from the field and made all of their three point baskets. Of LSU's 37 points, 26 came from players off the bench, compared to State's four.

State came out revived in the second period. MSU ended its 14 and a half minute scoring drought on a jumper by McKinney for the half's first points. From there, LSU maintained its dominance in the game. The Lady Tigers jumped out by 32 before MSU rallied to cut the lead down to 20 using a 16-4 run with 6:24 left to play. LSU fought to keep it's 20 plus point advantage, leading by 25 with four minutes remaining. Both teams remained scoreless until there was 1:50 left to play. At that point, LSU held a 24-point advantage and went on to win, 67-40.

Seimone Augustus led LSU with 18 points, while Sylvia Fowles added 12.

After an open date next Thursday, the Lady Bulldogs return to action on Sunday, Feb. 13 when MSU travels to Gainesville, Fla. for a 3 p.m. ET contest with the Florida Gators.

GAME NOTES
-Senior guard Tan White has scored in double digits in 33 consecutive games spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season.
-With her two steals this afternoon, White passed former Alabama standout Niesa Johnson to take over the No. 2 spot on the SEC all-Time Top 10 Career Steals list. White needs eight steals to reach the top spot.
-LSU leads the overall series, 35-4.
-LSU is State's fifth top 25 team faced this season. MSU is now 1-4 versus ranked opponents on the year.
-Today's loss is the fifth straight by MSU. The last time State lost five straight SEC games was Jan. 21-Feb. 4, 2001.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/4/05
MISSISSIPPI STATE VS. VANDERBILT GAME NOTES

SENIOR GUARD TAN WHITE
-47 points is the most scored during a single game in the NCAA and SEC this year (previous NCAA record: 43 by Milena Tomova of Florida International, 01/17/05), (previous SEC record: 33 by Seimone Augustus of LSU (11/14/04)
-47 points was also a career-high
-47 points is a new Humphrey Coliseum record for most points in a single game (previous: LaToya Thomas, 43 vs. Georgia, 01/13/02)
-Came one point shy of scoring the most points by a Lady Bulldog in a single game (48, LaToya Thomas vs. Memphis, 11/21/00)
-Has now scored in double digits in 32 consecutive game spanning from the end of the 2003-04 season
-Tonight marked White's 107th career game netting double digits and the 21st of the season
-White's five steals currently ranks second on the SEC All-Time Career Steals list; With 350 steals, she passed current LSU head coach Pokey Chatham and is tied with Niesa Johnson (Alabama); She needs just 10 steals to reach the No. 1 spot.

MOST POINTS
-Tonight's 98 points mark the most scored by an MSU team in an official Southeastern Conference regular season game, tied the most points scored against an SEC opponent (98 vs. Florida, 01/03/81) and is the most scored by an MSU team in a loss
-106 is most points allowed by MSU this season and in Humphrey Coliseum history
-98 is a season-high point total for MSU

OTHER PLAYERS
-Senior guard Tiania Burns tied a season-high with 22 points
-Junior forward Mamie McKinney tied a career-high with 16 points

OVERTIME PLAY
-Mississippi State is now 8-9 overall in overtime games, 2-2 in double overtime. The last time MSU played a double overtime game was Dec. 14, 1984 vs. Southern (MSU, 80-79)

SERIES HISTORY
-Vanderbilt now leads the series 26-11 (8-8 in Starkville)
-First Vanderbilt win in Starkville since Feb. 5, 1998 (73-66)

GAME STATISTICS
-.516 (going 33-64) is a season-high field goal percentage for MSU

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
-28-158 overall vs. Top 25 teams
-1-3 vs. Top 25 teams this season

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/3/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (14-6, 3-4 SEC) look to rebound from their three-game losing streak in the league when they host 20th-ranked Vanderbilt (15-5, 4-3 SEC) on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 8 p.m. CT to be televised on FSN South, FSN Southwest and Sunshine Network.

This past Sunday MSU fell at Alabama, 72-61, to drop its SEC record to below .500. In the loss, senior guard Tan White still tallied a game-high 28 points, the 13th time this season she has led all scorers. The Midseason Wooden Award candidate continues to lead the nation and the SEC in scoring with 22.6 points per game. Junior guard Doceide Warren is leading the offense well, tallying five assists and going 4-for-6 from the field for 10 points vs. the Crimson Tide. Senior forward Rebecca Kates was the third Lady Bulldog in double digits with 10 points.

Vanderbilt leads the overall series vs. MSU, 25-11. State has the advantage in Starkville, 8-7. The past four meetings have been even with State taking the two games at home and VU with the wins in Nashville.

Vanderbilt is riding a two-game winning streak coming into Thursday night's matchup. The Commodores defeated Kentucky on the road, 73-67, and Florida at home, 84-73. VU distributes its scoring totaling four players in double digits. Fellow Midseason Wooden Award candidate, senior guard/forward Ashley Earley is averaging 18.5 ppg, sophomore forward Carla Thomas has 15.9 ppg, sophomore guard Dee Davis has tallied 13.9 ppg and this week's SEC Player of the Week, senior guard Abi Ramsey is putting up 11.6 ppg.

Comparing the two teams, both squads defeated New Orleans and Troy in non-conference competition earlier this year. Both teams are also shooting 35 percent or better from three-point land. Nationally, State is ranked 22nd (6.8 pg) and Vandy is 25th (6.7 pg) in three-pointers made per game.

Source: MSU Media Relations

2/1/05
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Presently leading the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and rebounding, Mississippi State senior forward Lawrence Roberts has been named to the Wooden Award Midseason All-American Team. Comprised of the top 30 players who are expected to compete for this season's prestigious player of the year award, the midseason list was announced this past weekend by the John R. Wooden Award Committee from its Los Angeles headquarters.

Bidding to become the SEC's first-ever John R. Wooden Award winner as college basketball's national player of the year, Roberts ranks as the lone returning player from the top-five national finalists included on last year's John R. Wooden Award All-American First Team. The reigning SEC Player of the Year is one of two SEC players named to the Wooden Award Midseason All-American Team, joining fellow league standout Kennedy Winston of the University of Alabama.

Entering the week atop the SEC leaderboard with career-high averages of 18.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per contest, Roberts is attempting to become the first player since former LSU All-American and current NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (1990-91) to lead the Southeastern Conference in both scoring and rebounding during the same season. The 6-8, 240-pound Roberts also ranks sixth in the league in field-goal percentage (47.7%) and ninth in steals (1.8 spg).

A native of Houston, Texas, Roberts continues to rank first among all active NCAA Division I players with 1,036 career rebounds and 49 career double-doubles, including an SEC-high 11 double-doubles this season. He also stands 11th nationally among active players with 1,753 career points. Most recently, Roberts registered his seventh double-double in his last nine outings with 15 points and 12 rebounds at LSU this past Saturday.

This season marks the third consecutive year that Mississippi State has had a Midseason Top 30 Wooden Award candidate on the men's side, with Roberts previously a year ago and former all-SEC standout Mario Austin in 2002-03. Lady Bulldog senior Tan White is also a Midseason Wooden Award candidate for the women's honor this season for Mississippi State.

Created in 1976 and touted by many as the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball, the John R. Wooden Award is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his university that he is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.00 grade point average.

The Wooden Award national ballot, which will be comprised of approximately 20 players, will be finalized in March and sent to more than 1,000 voters consisting of sports media members and college basketball experts across the nation. The 2005 award ceremony will be televised live by CBS from the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 9, and the top five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony. Each finalist will receive a contribution from the John R. Wooden Award Scholarship Fund for their university's general scholarship fund.

Source: MSU Media Relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Owners of a 10-game homecourt winning streak, the Mississippi State Bulldogs (16-5, 4-3) tip off the month of February by playing host to the Florida Gators (13-4, 5-1) during an ESPN2 Super Tuesday national telecast originating from the MSU campus. Tip-off time for the 98th series renewal between the Bulldogs and Gators is set for 7 p.m. CT at MSU's Humphrey Coliseum. Slated to describe the play-by-play action from "The Hump" for ESPN2 are Brad Nessler, former Utah head basketball coach Rick Majerus and sideline reporter Heather Cox.

Ranked 22nd nationally last week in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and 24th in the AP Top 25, coach Rick Stansbury's Bulldogs enter the midway point of the conference slate sporting a 16-5 overall record and 4-3 SEC mark after dropping a 69-62 road decision to the LSU Tigers this past Saturday in Baton Rouge. After once claiming a then-NCAA best, 16-game road winning streak earlier this year, MSU has now fallen three straight times on the road in SEC play. State's current 10-game home winning streak dates back to last February and includes this year's SEC home triumphs over South Carolina, Arkansas and Auburn.

The Bulldogs have now lost more overall games and SEC decisions this season than all of last year when they went 26-4 overall and 14-2 in league play en route to claiming the regular-season SEC title. Bidding for the team's eighth straight bounce-back win over the last two seasons, MSU hasn't dropped back-to-back decisions since falling to Kentucky in the championship game of the 2003 SEC Tournament in New Orleans and then being upset by Butler in the opening round of the NCAA East Regional played in Birmingham, Ala.

Despite going 2-3 in its last five games without injured senior guard Winsome Frazier (bone fracture in left foot) in the lineup, defensively as a team Mississippi State continues to rank second among the conference leaders in both field-goal percentage defense (39.3%) and three-point field goal percentage defense (29.3%). Having now outrebounded 17 of 21 opponents on the season, the Bulldogs also maintain their league lead in both rebounding offense (41.9 rpg) and rebounding margin (+9.3 rpg) as they pursue their unprecedented fifth consecutive SEC rebound margin team statistical title.

Individually, the Bulldogs are powered by senior forward Lawrence Roberts, who is attempting to become the first league player since former LSU All-American and current NBA All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (1990-91) to lead the SEC in both scoring and rebounding during the same season. Posting career-high numbers of 18.6 points and 11.3 rebounds per game on the season, Roberts is also bidding to become the first repeat SEC Player of the Year performer since Arkansas' Corliss Williamson (1993-94 & 1994-95). With seven double-doubles in his last nine outings and an SEC-high 11 for the year, Roberts needs one more double-double to reach 50 for his collegiate career - a total that leads all active NCAA Division I players.

Rounding out MSU's probable starting lineup are seniors Shane Power (9.8 ppg & 4.0 rpg), Ontario Harper (7.3 ppg & 5.0 rpg) and Marcus Campbell (7.2 ppg & 5.7 rpg) along with sophomore point guard Gary Ervin (8.4 ppg & 5.3 apg).

Guided by ninth-year head coach Billy Donovan, the Florida Gators rank as the SEC's most potent offensive team in leading the conference in scoring offense (82.1 ppg), scoring margin (+17.9 ppg) and field-goal percentage (51.2%). Currently in second place in the SEC's Eastern Division race behind Kentucky, Florida is 13-4 overall on the season and 5-1 in SEC play after completing a recent three-game homestand with an 80-72 victory over South Carolina this past Saturday in Gainesville. Having knocked off Auburn (84-78 in OT) and Vanderbilt (82-65) on the road this season, the Gators' lone SEC setback on the year came at the hands of the Tennessee Volunteers (83-76 in OT) two weeks ago at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. UF is paced by the talented trio comprised of juniors Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh along with senior forward David Lee. Currently ranked second among the SEC's leading scorers (18.2 ppg) behind MSU's Roberts, Roberson leads the league in free-throw percentage (89.8%) while ranking second in three-point percentage (41.7%) and third in overall field-goal percentage (50.2%). Walsh ranks 13th in the SEC in scoring (14.1 ppg) and third in three-point percentage (40.6%), while Lee averages 12.4 points and a team-high 7.9 rebounds per contest (6th in SEC).

Source: MSU Media Relations

STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State Athletics and Recreational Sports are promoting women in sports in conjunction with National Girl¹s Sports Day this Saturday, Feb. 5, at Joe Frank Sanderson Center on the MSU campus and with "Take A Kid To The Game" promotion on Sunday, Feb. 6 at the Lady Bulldog basketball game vs. LSU at 2 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum.

On Saturday, Feb. 5, Recreational Sports will host Girl's Sports Day at the Sanderson Center. Girls ages 6-18 years old are invited to participate in a day of promoting fun and healthy activities to encourage girls' involvement in sports. These activities include aerobics, yoga, a soccer clinic and a volleyball clinic. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Sanderson Center. Admission is free and parents are welcome to participate. Activities are from 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Participants will also receive complimentary tickets to a Lady Bulldog softball game vs. Mississippi Valley State on Saturday at 2 p.m. and to the women's hoop's game vs. LSU on Sunday at 2 p.m.

"It's a two-day event. Our portion will provide instruction in soccer, volleyball, aerobics and yoga," said Director of Recreational Sports Laura Walling. "We are doing this in part with National Girl's Sports Day. We are hoping this year will be another big event. Last year we had 250 girls sign up and we have 160 girls with a week to go. It's great for the girls to interact with other athletes and learn more about sports in general. They can learn other ways to stay active and healthy with aerobics and yoga."

The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs will host top-ranked LSU in a 2 p.m. showdown on Sunday afternoon in Humphrey Coliseum. In an effort to get children involved in sports, MSU will participate in "Take A Kid To The Game", where any child (18 and under) who is accompanied by a paying adult, will get into the game free. Each adult may bring any number of youths with them.

MSU women's athletics home weekend schedule:

Friday, Feb. 4
2 p.m. MSU Softball vs. NC State
4 p.m. MSU Softball vs. Louisiana Tech

Saturday, Feb. 5
2 p.m. MSU Softball vs. Mississippi Valley State
4 p.m. MSU Softball vs. NC State

Sunday, Feb. 6
Noon MSU Women's Tennis vs. Kansas
2 p.m. MSU Women's Basketball vs. LSU
2 p.m. MSU Softball vs. Louisiana Tech
4 p.m. MSU Softball vs. Mississippi Valley State

Source: MSU Media Relations