OKLAHOMA CITY — Morgan William couldn’t help marvel at Teaira McCowan’s performance Friday night.
But William has grown accustomed to seeing a new player break out and have a career nigh because depth has been one of the strengths of the Mississippi State women’s basketball team all season.
So while McCowan was scoring a career-high 26 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and blocking a career-high six shots, William did her part in other areas. The junior point guard notched a career-high eight rebounds and had six assists in 31 minutes in second-seeded MSU’s 75-64 victory against third-seeded Washington in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament’s Oklahoma City Regional.
“Each game it is somebody else’s game,” William said. “You never know who is going to show up the next game, either.”
On this night, though, William knew she was going to have to do her part rebounding considering Washington senior center Chantel Osahor entered the game as the nation’s leader (15.4 per game) in that category.
William’s rebounding effort helped the Bulldogs earn a 49-34 advantage in that category. It was the Huskies’ largest rebounding deficit of the season, and the seventh time they have been outrebounded this season.
William said a team rebounding effort was needed just as much as the Bulldogs needed everyone to help out in trying to contain Kelsey Plum, who entered the game as the nation’s leading scorer (31.8 points per game).
“The man I was guarding (point guard Aarion McDonald) wasn’t even going to the boards, so I figured I had to go help,” William said. “Coach Schaefer said we’re playing against the nation’s leading rebounder, so everybody needs to get in there.
“I think it helped out a lot because the fives had to box out Osahor and then they eventually had to leave her, so it was easy for me to go get it and they could take off from there.”
William’s six assists tied her with Angela Harris for the program’s all-time lead (463). William entered the game tied for second with former All-American Tan White, who reached 457 in 121 games. Harris reached 463 in 110 games, while William moved into a tie for first in her 106th game.
A pass to remember
It might have been a “laser,” but Victoria Vivians has other assists that are at the top of her list.
The “laser” came with 1 minute, 14 seconds left in the second quarter when Vivians collected the ball at three-quarter court and delivered a diagonal dart to Chapel on the right block. Chapel snared the missile and converted the layup to give the Bulldogs a 35-26 lead.
The assist was one of three assists on the night for Vivians, who had 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting from the field in 23 minutes.
Asked to name one of her better assists, Vivians thought for a minute and recalled the time she went up against Tennessee’s Mercedes Russell and appeared ready to shoot only to dump it off for a nifty assist.
That assist paled in comparison to the size of the stage Vivians and the Bulldogs were on Friday night.
It also paled in comparison in terms of speed of the pass.
“We were talking about it and I asked Ketara, ‘I threw that pass hard, didn’t I?’ ” Vivians said. “I saw her as soon I got it I threw it. I knew I threw it hard.”
Vivians said she wasn’t sure how she got the pass through, but she knew somebody was behind Chapel, so she had to put a little extra juice on it.
“I actually didn’t think she was going to catch it,” Vivians said. “I thought I threw it too hard.”
Chapel, who had six points and three rebounds in 20 minutes, acknowledged the pass was hard, but she said the Bulldogs have worked on running in transition every practice, so she was ready for a chance in a secondary break situation.
“I didn’t think she was going to throw it, but I am glad she did,” Chapel said. “I was going to catch it. Playing with Torri all of the time and any of the guards, I am used to it.”
Schaefer, Vivians earn honors
MSU coach Vic Schaefer and Vivians earned regional honors Friday from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Schaefer was named a United States Marine Corps Regional Coach of the Year, while Vivians was named a regional finalist for the WBCA All-American.
Schaefer also was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year, while Vivians was named a finalist for the Wooden Award and a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year. She also named to the watch lists for the Wade and Ann Meyers Drysdale awards.
This and that
MSU had a 25-8 edge in second-chance points. It also had a 23-0 advantage in points off the bench. … MSU recorded its third-highest total of the season with nine blocked shots. … With 21 offensive rebounds, the Bulldogs recorded 20 or more for the fifth time.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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