Bulldogs Set To Face USC In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs look to continue their run in March when they take on the top-seeded and fourth-ranked team in the country, USC. Tipoff for the contest is set for 9 p.m. CT on ESPN.

GAME INFORMATION
No. 1 Seed USC (29-3, 16-1 Big Ten) vs No. 9 Seed Mississippi State (22-11, 7-9 SEC)
Date: Monday, March 24, 9:00 p.m. CT
Location: Los Angeles, Calif. (Galen Center)
Watch: ESPN
Listen: MSU Radio Network – Starkville 96.1

NOTES:

Mississippi State took down Cal in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 59-46. Cal's 46 points tied the lowest amount of points scored by a Mississippi State opponent in NCAA Tournament history.
State's defense excelled in the contest. The Bulldogs held Cal to their lowest 3 point percentage of the season (14.3), their second lowest point total (46) and their lowest scoring quarter of the season (5).
State held Cal to 25 percent shooting, the seventh time they have held an opponent to under 30 percent shooting since and the first since December 8th against Chicago State.
The Bulldogs also tied a program record for fewest points allowed in an NCAA Tournament game, when they held No. 16 Seed Southern to 46 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, which was played in Starkville at Humphrey Coliseum.
Madina Okot scored 14 points and secured 13 rebounds, while also anchoring the defense with three steals and two blocks. Eniya Russell collected 14 points. Jerkaila Jordan earned 10 points with four steals and two blocks.
Debreasha Powe knocked down her 176th career three against California, which puts her in fifth in most three-pointers made in program history, surpassing former Bulldog and Texas Longhorn Assistant Coach Blair Schaefer (176).
The Bulldogs will match up with the top-seeded USC Trojans. The two programs will face off for just the third time, with each team winning one game a piece.
In the last matchup between USC and Mississippi State, the Bulldogs walked away with a 76-72 victory. Current Assistant Coach Victoria Vivians led those Bulldogs with 19 points, including knocking down three triples, with six rebounds and a steal.
The Trojans are currently ranked fourth in the AP Poll. State is 1-4 against top-10 opponents, knocking off No. 10 Oklahoma back on January 9. Their last matchup with a top-10 opponent was with then No. 1 Texas, who defeated the Bulldogs 68-64.
Mississippi State has an all-time record of 26-12 in the NCAA Tournament. They have advanced to at least the Sweet Sixteen in five of their 13 apperances.
In their last appearance in the NCAA Tournament during the 2022-23 season, Mississippi State became the first team in history to advance out of the First Four round after beating Illinois 70-56 in South Bend, Indiana.
Jerkaila Jordan and Debreasha Powe are the lone two members on State's roster that played in the 2022-23 tournament.
Eniya Russell has appeared in the NCAA Tournament two times with South Carolina while she was there her freshman and sophomore season. Chandler Prater sports one season of Tournament experience from her sophomore season at Kansas.

Visit HailState.com and social media accounts @HailStateWBK for the most up-to-date information on Mississippi State women's basketball.

Bulldogs Set To Face USC In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jerkaila Jordan

Madina Okot

Debreasha Powe

Chandler Prater

Eniya Russell

Mississippi State University Athletics

Bulldogs Set To Face USC In Second Round Of NCAA Tournament

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jerkaila Jordan

Madina Okot

Debreasha Powe

Chandler Prater

Eniya Russell

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