STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State women’s basketball team will have a chance to catch its breath for the next phase of its season begins.
Until then, MSU coach Vic Schaefer and the Bulldogs will celebrate a few postseason honors.
On Tuesday, sophomore guard Victoria Vivians was named first-team All-SEC, junior guard/forward Dominique Dillingham was named to the SEC’s All-Defensive team, and center Teaira McCowan was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team.
“Those kids would all tell you they couldn’t do it without their teammates,” Schaefer said.
Vivians, a second-team pick last season, is second in the league in scoring (16.7 points per game) and sixth in league play (15.4 ppg). She is the second Bulldog to earn a first-team honors under Schaefer.
The Wooden Award Late Season Top 20 selection and candidate for the Naismith and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards is averaging 17.3 ppg. behind 50 percent shooting the last three games.
On Sunday against Alabama, Vivians became the fifth Bulldog to reach 1,000 career points in two seasons. She finished the regular season scoring in double figures in 26 of 30 games, and she had 20-plus points in 10 of those games.
On Monday, Vivians was named a finalist for the Gillom Trophy, which goes to the state’s top women’s college basketball player.
“I think it is a progression from last year,” Schaefer said. “I think people recognize and realize that for us to be successful Victoria has to score for us, and she is always going to get the other team’s best defensive game plan, not to mention their best defensive player. All of the people on the All-Defensive team, Victoria Vivians probably can tell you what flavor gum they are chewing.
“I am pleased for her. It is something we talked about in the preseason. It has been a challenge. She has been challenged weekly, and she has answered that challenge on most nights.”
Dillingham earned her first league honor of her career. The Spring, Texas, native has 42 steals this season (1.4 per game). She also is averaging 3.9 rebounds (4.6 in the SEC). She took three charges against Alabama to move into the team lead with 47. Dillingham is third on the team in scoring (9.4 ppg.).
McCowan is averaging 6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Brenham, Texas, native finished the regular season the league’s top freshman with 172 rebounds. She claimed 92 offensive rebounds and tied for fifth on the offensive glass in league play with 49, a 3.1 average. She has recorded a team-best five double-doubles and pulled down double-figure rebounds in seven games.
South Carolina’s A’ja Wilson was named SEC Player of the Year after being named Freshman of the Year last season. Wilson was also named Defensive Player of the Year.
Texas A&M’s Chelsea Jennings was voted 6th Woman of the Year, while Georgia’s Marjorie Butler garnered Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. The league’s 14 coaches selected the teams.
Jessica Jackson (Arkansas), Shacobia Barbee (Georgia), Makayla Epps (Kentucky), Alaina Coates, Tiffany Mitchell, and Wilson (South Carolina), and Courtney Walker (Texas A&M) joined Vivians on the first team.
Ronni Williams (Florida), Tiaria Griffin (Georgia), Evelyn Akhator and Janee Thompson (Kentucky), Sophie Cunningham and Jordan Frericks (Missouri), and Jordan Jones and Courtney Williams (Texas A&M) were named to the second team.
Eleanna Christinaki (Florida), Caliya Robinson (Georgia), Maci Morris (Kentucky), Cunningham and Cierra Porter (Missouri), Te’a Cooper (Tennessee), and Anriel Howard (Texas A&M) joined McCowan on the All-Freshman team.
Simone Westbrook (Florida), Barbee (Georgia), Wilson (South Carolina), and Jones (Texas A&M) joined Dillingham on the All-Defensive team.
South Carolina’s Dawn Staley was named coach of the year. Cunningham was named freshman of the year.
MSU (24-6, 11-5 SEC) was picked to finish third and fourth by media and coaches, respectively, in the preseason. The Bulldogs tied for second in the league standings, the best SEC finish in program history. MSU will take on the winner of the Georgia–Vanderbilt-Ole Miss game at approximately 7:30 p.m. Friday (SEC Network).
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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