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Home > SECWB News & More! > Our Staff & Contributors > anOtter Perspective > Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Mississippi State Preview
Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Mississippi State Preview
by Kel Kyle, SECWB.com
Posted: November 27th, 2007 @ 11:51am
Back on U.S. soil after a pair of losses this weekend at the Cancun Caribbean Challenge, the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (4-2) welcome the Lady Lionettes of Arkansas-Pine Bluff this evening.
In their last outing, MSU posted a 73-88 loss to No. 10 Oklahoma on Friday. Even though the Lady Bulldogs spoiled the consecutive games in which All-American Courtney Paris scored double-doubles (64), that wasn't enough to overcome the Sooners. Setting her own career record high of four double-doubles, senior forward, Imesia Jackson went 8-of-8 from the line, 10 rebounds and 18 points (season high) in total. Three other Lady Bulldogs scored in double figures, Bethany Washington (16), Marneshia Richard (14) and Tysheka Grimes (11).
After losing it's first two contests of the regular season on the road. Arkansas-Pine Bluff ("UAPB") celebrated their first victory of the season last Tuesday at home against Central Arkansas (75-67). Junior forward, Ciara Sheilds leads the team in both scoring (averaging 13.3 ppg) and rebounds (9 rpg). Her double-double (21 points/14 rebounds) against Central Arkansas was the contributing factor for the "W". Shandae Martin, junior guard/forward is the second highest scoring leader averaging 11.3 points per game.
This is the second meeting between the two teams with MSU leading the series 1-0. The last time they met was barely over ten years (Nov. 21, 1997) in Starkville as MSU won by 28 points (78-50). This will be the first meeting between the two coaches as UAPB's head coach Danny Evans enters his third season with a record of 19-43.
Probable Starters:
MSU - Using two lineups so far this season, expect to see Coach Fanning start leading scorers (tied at 11.2 ppg), Imesia Jackson and Alexis Rack along with Tysheka Grimes, Robin Porter and Marneshia Richard (current MSU assist leader - 4.5 rpg). Jackson is also the team leading rebounder with
UAPB - Coach Evans will more than likely start his star player, Ciara Shields who leads the team in scoring, rebounding, blocks and a free-throw percentage of .762 (16 total free throws made to date). Candace Ward should also be starting and leads the team in steals (5.0 spg) as well as minutes played. Filling out the starting five, expect to see Arica Green, Yuliya Serebryanskaya and Delores Hughley.
Milestone Watch:
Lady Bulldog, Marneshia Richard broke the 500-point mark of her career with nine points scored in the game against Iowa. Moving on up that same ladder are three other Lady Bulldogs: Senior, Imesia Jackson (462) and sophomores Alexis Rack (398) and Tysheka Grimes (304). Richard also has a career 220 assists and is only 50 short of the top ten list at MSU.
Two is more fun than one ... Sophomore Alexis Rack leads the pack with three-pointers made as a freshman at 64. She replaced Tan White who had the previous best of 53. Rack needs only two more treys to enter the top 10 list at MSU. On that same note, head coach Sharon Fanning, is only two games shy of her 200th win at MSU.
Up Next:
MSU hosts Southern Mississippi on Thursday, November 29. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. CT.
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