STARKVILLE — Rivalries are two-sided. At least in Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer’s mind they are.
While MSU’s annual contests with in-state foe Ole Miss consistently garners attention in Starkville and Oxford, it’s the Bulldogs’ meetings with Dawn Staley’s South Carolina squads that have garnered far more intrigue in recent years.
Since 2017, South Carolina leads the overall series 4-3 — including a win in the 2017 national title game. Despite that, the Bulldogs boast the momentum in recent years, having won three of the past four meetings heading into Monday’s renewal of the rivalry in Columbia.
“We’re 4-0 (in the SEC) and have a chance again to go on the road,” Schaefer said Friday. “This has become a really competitive series, and we’re going to have to play really well on Monday night for it to continue. I know our kids will be ready. I’m excited to see us play in that environment and in that ballgame.”
While MSU has taken its lumps in the early going this season — most notably a home loss to No. 17 West Virginia Dec. 8 — Schaefer’s bunch have responded in recent weeks.
Riding the consistent offensive output of senior guard Jordan Danberry and freshman forward Rickea Jackson, MSU is averaging 77.5 points per game over its past eight contests — all wins. By contrast, in losses to West Virginia and then-No. 3 Stanford, the Bulldogs averaged just 63.5 points per game.
For context, the Gamecocks enter Monday’s contest allowing just 56.6 points per game.
“They do things extremely well,” Staley said during her media availability Sunday. “They’re efficient and calculated on their floor for their players and we’ve got to make sure we win those battles — we can’t allow them to play in the space that they’re comfortable playing.”
Beyond South Carolina’s stingy defense, the Gamecocks also boast a prolific offense led by senior guard Tyasha Harris and a capable supporting cast of young and old. Harris — who is averaging 11.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game — will anchor the USC backcourt and previously played under Schaefer on the USA Pan-American team this past summer.
“I have so much respect for Ty and what she does for her team and how she goes about her business,” Schaefer said. “She’s a pro.”
Beyond Harris, freshman sensation Aliyah Boston and senior Mikiah Herbert Harrigan comprise a prolific frontcourt that will give Jackson and sophomore center Jessika Carter all they can handle. Boston — the No. 3 recruit in the class of 2019 — is currently fourth among all SEC freshmen in points per game with 13.0 — trailing Jackson, Vanderbilt’s Koi Love and Lavender Briggs, of Florida.
Sitting at 16-2 and with wins in its opening four SEC games, MSU is in position to take an early hold on the regular season conference title race should it spring an upset on the road. And while the Bulldogs have a major opportunity before them, it remains a squad that is green to games like the one awaiting them Monday.
“Let’s be honest, some of our young kids are getting used to playing in front of 8,000 here at home,” Schaefer said. “I think the only way to really prepare for that is you just have to experience it.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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