Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Following a 41-point rout of UAB on Friday, Mississippi State returns home Sunday to face Atlantic-10 power Xavier in its final non-conference game before conference play. Game time at MSU's Humphrey Coliseum is set for 2 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs, now 12-1 this season, have the best 13-game start in school history. Mississippi State continues to lead all Southeastern Conference teams in scoring margin, defeating opponents by 25.3 points on average. State also leads the SEC in assists, blocks, steals and are second in scoring offense, rebounding margin, turnover margin, assist/turnover ratio and three-point field goals made.
MSU is currently led in scoring by junior Alexis Rack who is now averaging 14.2 points a game. Rack came three rebounds short of a triple-double Friday against UAB as she had 19 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Junior Armelie Lumanu continues to average double-digit scoring with 13.9 a game. Junior Chanel Mokango had 11 points, five rebounds and five blocks against UAB and is averaging 10.9 points a game.
Xavier enters Sunday's game with an 11-4 record this season. The Musketeers are led by preseason All-American candidate sophomore Ta'Shia Phillips who is averaging 14.5 points a game and 11.5 rebounds a game. Senior Jerri Taylor is averaging 10.4 points a game for XU.
Mississippi State and Xavier have met two previous times. The first meeting came during the 2001-02 season when Xavier defeated State 74-72 in Cincinnati. During the 2002-03 season, Mississippi State defeated XU 78-74 in Starkville.
Following Sunday's game, Mississippi State will travel to Gainesville, Fla. to face 18th-ranked Florida Thursday, Jan. 8 in its conference opener. Game time is set for 4 p.m. CT at UF's Stephen C. O'Connell Center.