ROBBY & TOM in OHIO: MSU Ready for Title Game vs. Notre Dame, Myah Taylor Grateful for Redshirt Season

March 31, 2018

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – One more.

It was the motto that Mississippi State women’s basketball adopted after finishing as the national runner-up a year ago.

The Bulldogs get another chance to win the program’s first national championship as they face Notre Dame Sunday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Tip is set for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN, with Adam Amin, Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe on the call.

Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield will call the action on the MSU Radio Network and online on www.HailState.com/Plus and the TuneIn app.

Westwood One radio will also broadcast the game on stations around the country, Sirius/XM channel 84 and the TuneIn app.

For fans in Starkville, a free watch party will be held in Humphrey Coliseum. Doors open at 4 p.m., and cowbells will be permitted while concessions will not be available. MSU’s clear bag policy and standard security screening procedures will be in effect.

Mississippi State won its school-record and Division I-best 37^thgame with Friday’s thrilling 73-63 overtime win against Louisville in the national semifinal.

Ann Meyers Drysdale winner Victoria Vivians led MSU with 25 points, while Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Teaira McCowan tallied 21 points and a Final Four-record 25 rebounds.

Morgan William and Jordan Danberry added 10 points each, while Roshunda Johnson collected seven points, including the tying 3-pointer in the final seconds of regulation.

The Bulldogs meet a Notre Dame team that improved to 34-3 on the season with a 91-89 overtime victory against UConn in Friday’s second semifinal.

Jackie Young led the Fighting Irish with 32 points, while Arike Ogunbowale tallied 27 points, including the deciding bucket at the end of overtime.

Ogunbowale leads Notre Dame with 20.9 ppg, while Jessica Shepard averages 15.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: No. 1 Seed Notre Dame (NCAA National Championship Game)
Location: Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena)
Date: Sunday, April 1
Time: 5 p.m. CT
Television: ESPN (PxP – Adam Amin; Analysts – Kara Lawson, Rebecca Lobo; Reporter – Holly Rowe)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Radio: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield); Westwood One – Sirius/XM 84 (PxP – John Sadak; Analyst – Debbie Antonelli; Reporter – Krista Blunk)

SERIES HISTORY
NOTRE DAME (First Meeting)
At MSU: 0-0
At Notre Dame: 0-0
At Neutral Sites: 0-0

BULLDOG BITES

Mississippi State is in its 2nd-straight Final Four appearance. It has made the national title game in both.
MSU has 10 NCAA Tournament wins in its last 2 appearances. It had 9 in the program’s first 42 years.
The Bulldogs own the nation’s most wins with 37. The Louisville win gave State’s senior class its 126th-career victory.
SEC Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer was named WBCA and USBWA National Coach of the Year this week.
Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan were both named to the 10-player WBCA All-America Team. Vivians was named First Team All-American by Associated Press, the first Bulldog named to the first team since 2003 (LaToya Thomas). She was a Second Team selection by the USBWA and Third Team honoree by ESPNW.
Teaira McCowan is a First Team All-American by ESPNW and Third Team by Associated Press.
McCowan recorded her 28th double-double of the season on Friday, an SEC record for double-doubles in a season.
Her 92 rebounds in the 5 games are an NCAA Tournament record.
McCowan grabbed a Final Four-record 25 rebounds to go with 21 points against Louisville. It was her 5th 20 pt., 20 rbd. game of the season and 2nd straight.
Victoria Vivians has double figures in 37 of State’s 38 games this season. Friday was her 19th 20-point game of the year.
Vivians and McCowan have scored 20 points in the same game 8 times this season, including 3 of the last 4 games.
Vivians averages 22.0 ppg this season against ranked foes, while McCowan tallies 16.1 ppg and 16.0 rpg.
Morgan William is averaging 11.9 ppg and shooting 91.2% from the line in the NCAA Tournament
Jordan Danberry played a season-high 26 minutes on Friday.