Monday was a good day for the Mississippi State women’s basketball team.
Coach Vic Schaefer and the Bulldogs learned Monday morning that the Southeastern Conference named guard/forward Victoria Vivians the SEC Freshman of the Week. The 6-foot-1 standout from Scott Central High School also was named College Sports Madness’ SEC Player of the Week after she earned MVP honors in leading MSU (4-0) to the Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament title.
MSU’s victories against then-No. 17 West Virginia and Western Kentucky that wrapped up the Preseason WNIT championship helped MSU climb into The Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 25. MSU received 77 points and is 28 points behind Georgia, Syracuse, and West Virginia, who are tied at No. 22. The ranking is the program’s first in The AP poll since Nov. 23, 2009.
“I am awfully proud of the development of our team, but it is not where you start it is where you finish,” Schaefer said. “We would like to be in the top 25 when the year is over. For this team at this stage in the program two weeks into the season, it speaks volumes about our kids and their commitment.”
Schaefer said he was especially happy for seniors Jerica James, Kendra Grant, and Martha Alwal, who are in their fourth year in the program. MSU had three-straight losing seasons following its first trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2009-10. Schaefer and his staff took over in 2012-13 and finished 13-17. The Bulldogs took a big step forward last season, going 22-14 and advancing to the quarterfinals of the Postseason WNIT. MSU’s three postseason victories and a second-straight nationally ranked recruiting class raised expectations for this season. The Bulldogs have shown they are up to the challenge even though Alwal, a first-team All-SEC performer and the SEC’s co-Defensive Player of the Year last season, and Grant haven’t played this season. Savannah Carter, the team’s other senior, has logged only five minutes in one game. Still, MSU pulled a 74-61 upset of West Virginia and then rallied for an 88-77 win against a Western Kentucky squad that was receiving votes to move to No. 25.
Schaefer cautioned there is a long way to go in the season and that his young team, which can play as many as six first-year players, has a lot of improvement to do. Now that the Bulldogs are ranked, Schaefer said he and his players have to “earn our keep.”
“(The ranking) certainly means something to our opponents,” Schaefer said. “We have been on peoples’ radar for a while, which is why I have chosen not to play under the radar. … We have everybody’s attention, so why not live up to everybody’s attention.
“We just had a good practice (Monday) and went pretty good up and down the floor. I think there is a way now to approach this and we have got to go at it every day and try to move up. We don’t want to be satisfied.”
MSU has climbed back into the poll thanks in part to Vivians. The Carthage native averaged 21 points and 8.5 rebounds in the semifinal and championship game victories. Her weekly honor is the program’s second in as many weeks. Point guard Morgan William earned the season’s first honor.
“Anybody who has ever seen her play knew she could do it,” Schaefer said. “People outside the state who had never seen her play may have had some questions, but once you have seen the kid play there is no doubt. I think she is playing with a little bit of an edge about her. You have to love her confidence, as you do all our young kids. We have a confident group. The freshmen are not scared. They want to play and want to contribute. They’re going to be fun to coach for many years to come. I am proud of Victoria. She is mature beyond her years.”
Vivians had 22 of her 26 points in the second half against West Virginia. She was 8 of 13 from the field in the second half, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. The 26-point effort tied for the third-best showing the SEC this season, and the second-best by a league rookie behind William’s 29 points against Arkansas State.
Vivians had her first double-double (16 points, season-high 12 rebounds) against Western Kentucky.
“It’s a great accomplishment, and one I hope to be able to get many more times,” Vivians said. “My teammates played a big role in me getting this honor. Without them it wouldn’t have been possible.”
MSU will wrap up a five-game homestand at 7 tonight when it plays host to Louisiana-Monroe.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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