STARKVILLE — Mississippi State’s athletic teams combined for a score of 85 in the annual release of the NCAA’s Graduation Success Rates, representing the school’s highest total since the formula’s inception in 2005.
The 85 percentile is up one point from last year’s previous school-record total of 84, and it is two points better than the national Division I overall average of 83. State’s total tied for fifth among the 14-member Southeastern Conference institutions. The score is a measure of the four-year cohort from 2005-08.
Five Bulldog programs — men’s and women’s tennis, volleyball, softball and women’s golf — earned perfect scores of 100. Five other teams registered scores of 90 or better, including soccer (96), women’s basketball (95), men’s cross country and track and field (93), baseball (91), and men’s golf (90).
Ten Bulldog programs exceeded the GSR national average: baseball, men’s track and field, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, softball, and volleyball. Football hit the Football Bowl Subdivision average of 72, and improved six points from last year’s tally.
The NCAA Graduation Success Rate is designed to show the proportion of student-athletes on any given team who earn a college degree. The report represents data from first-time freshmen, student-athletes who entered at midyear, and student-athletes who transferred into Mississippi State University between 2005 and 2008, but excludes student-athletes who transfer from the university in good academic standing.
Ole Miss Athletics recorded the highest GSR (80 percent) in school history. The Rebels are also graduating at a higher rate than the general student population.
Women’s basketball, which opens its season Friday with an exhibition game, posted a perfect 100 GSR, as did women’s golf, volleyball, and rifle. Women’s golf has achieved this feat seven straight years, while volleyball earned it for the fifth year in a row. It marked the third year in a row for women’s basketball to have a perfect score and the second for rifle.
Baseball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, soccer, softball and women’s tennis, joined women’s golf, women’s basketball, volleyball and rifle with a GSR at or above the overall national average (83 percent).
In addition, baseball, men’s basketball, rifle, women’s basketball, women’s golf, volleyball, softball, and soccer scored above the national average in their respective sports.
College Soccer
n Texas A&M 2, Ole Miss 0: At Orange Beach, Alabama, the Aggies (14-5-1) scored in the 75th and in the 81st minutes Wednesday to beat the No. 17 Rebels (13-5-2) in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
The setback marked the first time this season Ole Miss has suffered back-to-back losses.
Texas A&M outshot Ole Miss 19-7. Ole Miss redshirt freshman goalkeeper Marnie Merritt tied her career-high with eight saves.
Ally Watt and Emily Bates scored for Texas A&M, which will play LSU on Friday in the semifinals.
Ole Miss will return to Oxford and await its fate for the NCAA tournament. The selection show will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Prep Girls Basketball
n Starkville Academy 33, Nettleton 31: At Nettleton, Bonner Hughes had 14 points, three rebounds, and three steals to lead the Lady Volunteers.
Sarah Pellum had five rebounds and six steals, Hannah Cuevas had seven rebounds, and Sydney Passons had four rebounds and three steals.
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