If you are writing down all the records the Mississippi State women’s basketball team has broken over the past couple of seasons, you would be wise to record them in pencil. Every time you look up, it seems, the Bulldogs are rewriting school history.
Thursday, MSU broke another record, one it set just last season. With a 90-53 win over Florida, the Bulldogs are now off to their best start in program history with a 21-0 record. Last year State started the season with a 20-0 record en route to a spot in the national championship game.
When MSU stepped off the court after that championship game, many speculated whether this year’s team could measure up to a squad that piled up wins and records on what seemed like a daily basis. The Bulldogs lost three starters from that team, so it was a fair question.
To date, the answer has been a resounding “yes,” as the team’s perfect record indicates. MSU hasn’t just won those games, either. They’ve dominated.
Thursday’s 37-point win was not all that uncommon. The average margin for victory in this 21-year stampede is 30 points. Those wins haven’t been romps over cupcake opponents, either.
Last week, MSU hammered sixth-ranked Tennessee by 19 points at the notoriously-tough Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The Bulldogs beat No. 7 Oregon by 21, No. 21 Georgia by 16 and No. 22 Green Bay by 21. Their eight-point win over No. 25 Arizona State is the team’s narrowest victory.
There hasn’t be a nail-biter in the bunch.
More records are on the way too.
With nine regular-season games remaining, as well as the conference and NCAA Tournament, the current group of three seniors who started their college careers in Starkville — Morgan William, Victoria Vivians and Blair Schaefer — are virtually a lock to become the winningest senior class in school history. Last year’s team set that record with 111 wins.
A win at Ole Miss Sunday would tie that mark and a win in any game after would set a new mark.
So you can write it down.
In pencil, of course.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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