TOM IN KC: Mississippi State and UCLA Meet in the Elite Eight

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI/MSU Athletics) – A spot in the Final Four in Columbus, Ohio, is on the line Sunday as Mississippi State takes on UCLA in the Kansas City Regional Final.

The first meeting between to the two programs tips at 6:30 p.m. from the Sprint Center, with ESPN carrying the contest nationally. The game can also be streamed on www.WatchESPN.com and the WatchESPN app.

Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield will describe play on the MSU Radio Network, www.HailState.com/Plus
and the TuneIn app.

Top-seeded Mississippi State will be playing in the Elite Eight for the second-straight year after knocking off NC State 71-57 on Friday in the Sweet 16.

That win put State at 35-1 for the season, eclipsing last year’s squad for the most victories in school history.

All-American Teaira McCowan led the Bulldogs’ Sweet 16 win, tying the NCAA Tournament record with an 11-for-11 performance from the field. McCowan notched 24 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to go with four blocks.

She led four MSU players in double figures, as Victoria Vivians added 14 points and Morgan William and Roshunda Johnson tallied 13 and 12, respectively.

UCLA improved to 27-7 on the season with an 84-75 win against Texas in Friday’s second region semifinal. Jordin Canada led the Bruins with 22 points, improving her season scoring average to 16.9 ppg.

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: No. 3 Seed UCLA (NCAA Tournament Kansas City Regional Final)
Location: Kansas City, Mo. (Sprint Center)
Date: Sunday, March 25
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Television: ESPN (PxP – Pam Ward; Analyst – Gail Goestenkors; Reporter – Courtney Lyle)
Watch Online: WatchESPN.com or WatchESPN App
Listen: MSU Radio Network, HailState.com/Plus, TuneIn App (PxP – Jason Crowder; Analyst – Charlie Winfield)

SERIES HISTORY
UCLA (First Meeting)
At MSU: 0-0
At UCLA: 0-0
At Neutral Sites: 0-0

First Meeting

BULLDOG BITES

• Mississippi State has advanced to the Elite Eight for the 2nd-straight year. MSU defeated Baylor last season in its first Elite Eight appearance.
• Friday’s win against N.C. State was State’s school-record 35th of the season, bettering last year’s team.
• MSU will be meeting UCLA for the first time.
• After going 7-7 in their first 7 NCAA Tournament appearances, the Bulldogs are 10-2 in their last 3 berths.
• SEC Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer was named WBCA National Coach of the Year on Thursday. He is also a finalist for Naismith National Coach of the Year.
• The WBCA named Johnnie Harris Division I Assistant Coach of the Year and Carly Thibault-DuDonis to the Top 30 Under 30.
• Victoria Vivians is a First Team All-American by USA Today. Teammate Teaira McCowan is a First Team All-American by ESPNW. McCowan and Vivians are Wooden Award finalists.
• McCowan recorded her 26th double-double of the year Friday with 24 points and 15 rebounds. She is 2nd at MSU in career double-doubles with 36.
• McCowan tied an NCAA Tournament record going 11-for-11 (100%) Friday. It is a regional round record.
• In the NCAA Tournament, McCowan is averaging 21.0 ppg, 15.3 rpg and shooting 80.6% from the field.
• Vivians is averaging 19.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg and shooting 44.4% FG, 70% 3FG and 10-for-10 at the line in the 3 games.
• Vivians has scored double figures in 35 of State’s 36 games.
• After passing former All-American Tan White for 2nd at State in career scoring last Monday, she passed White for career field goals on Friday with 894.
• With 13 points against NC State, Morgan William is now averaging 13.0 ppg and shooting 45.2% from the field through the tournament’s first 3 games.