STARKVILLE — Mississippi State said one final goodbye to its most successful senior class in the history of the women’s basketball program Monday night at The Mill.
While the goodbyes were heartfelt and a lot of tears flowed, MSU coach Vic Schaefer was quick to point out the time is now for this junior class to keep the program’s tradition alive.
“The seniors finished 126-22,” Schaefer said. “The junior class is now 99-15. If they can win 27 games, it’s a match. That is where this program at. We want to get back and win one more game.”
There were few dry eyes when the annual postseason banquet ended with a 20-minute video, which featured clips from all 37 victories earned this past season. There also were outtakes of the members of the senior class dating back to their freshman year when an incredible run was just taking shape.
The MSU seniors carried the program to four-straight NCAA tournament berths, including opportunities to play host to the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament the last three seasons. This season, the Bulldogs won the program’s first Southeastern Conference
regular-season championship and the first SEC title for any MSU women’s sport.
The season ended with a second-straight Final Four appearance and a second-straight loss in the national championship game — a 61-58 setback to Notre Dame in Columbus, Ohio.
“I want to the thank Hail State family for making me the young lady I have become,” MSU senior Victoria Vivians said. “It hasn’t always been easy, but we have come a long way and done things people didn’t think was possible. For the players who are left behind, I challenge you to keep doing the impossible.”
Vivians also was recognized for being selected as the No. 8 pick by the Indiana Fever in the WNBA draft Thursday night in New York City.
Schaefer thanked Vivians, who is from Carthage, for taking a chance on him as an unproven head coach and staying in the state of Mississippi. He said he still remembers sitting in the conference room eating a taco salad during the lunch hour, when Vivians called and gave a verbal commitment to MSU.
Each senior gave an emotional speech to the crowd of better than 500.
Roshunda Johnson, Morgan William, Vivians, and Schaefer’s daughter, Blair, reflected on their time as MSU students and thanked everyone from managers to men’s team practice players to trainers to academic counselors to medial relations specialists to teammates to coaches.
Each player handled their emotions well. MSU’s sixth-year head coach didn’t.
“I am going to make it through this,” coach Schaefer said. “Anything the girls can do, surely, I can do.”
Coach Schaefer’s speech ended with a challenge to the junior class of Zion Campbell, Jordan Danberry, Jonika Garvin, Jazzmun Holmes, and Teaira McCowan.
“This is a top-10 program now,” coach Schaefer said. “We aren’t going to stop and rest on the laurels of this senior class. They won 27, 28, 34 and 37 games. Each year it was something bigger and better. Now, we ask the juniors to do just that — something bigger and better. We have an outstanding recruiting class coming in.
“It’s a chance to go back. It’s a chance to do something big.”
As far as awards go, Vivians and McCowan were named co-team Most Valuable Players. Vivians also was chosen Miss Offense, while McCowan and Schaefer shared Miss Defense. Schaefer also won the Miss Hustle Award.
Danberry claimed the Newcomer Award and Team Academic Award thanks to a 3.86 grade-point average in business economics.
William was chosen the Tommy and Terri Nusz Most Outstanding Bulldog Award. Johnson received the Most Improved Award.
Homes claimed the Sixth Person Award, while freshman Chloe Bibby was chosen the team’s top newcomer.
In perhaps the toughest decision of the night, Dr. Janice Nicholson was honored as the team’s fan of the year.
“I really hope everyone in this room lives another 535 years,” coach Schaefer said. “That way each person in this room can win the fan of the year award. We have the best fan base in the nation. To share this night and to honor these seniors with this group of fans, it’s what makes Mississippi State special.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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