Mississippi State makes the Women’s Final Four!

The Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs are moving on to the Women’s Final Four!

The Lady Bulldogs clinched their second consecutive berth in the Final Four with their 89-73 win over the UCLA Bruins Sunday night. State won the Kansas City Regional in the process, a Region in which they headed as a No. 1 seed.

It was a rather effortless run through the KC Region for the Lady Bulldogs. They soundly defeated both Nicholls State and Oklahoma State in their Round of 64 and Round of 32 matchups over in Starkville. Then, they took down the 4th-seeded N.C. State Wolfpack in the Regional Semifinals back on Friday. Sunday’s matchup with UCLA was a relative breeze as well. In total, their average margin of victory was 22.5, including a 45-point rout of Nicholls State in the Round of 64.

Victoria Vivians and Teaira McCowan were named as Regional Co-MVPs. Their performances in the Elite Eight exemplified exactly why. Vivians put up 24 points on a 10-of-17 mark from the field, while McCowan posted 23 points on a 7-of-15 night from the field. McCowan also pulled down 21 rebounds, giving her an impressive 20-20 double-double.

State will be seeking their second appearance in the NCAA Women’s Tournament final. To do so, they will have to defeat Asia Durr and the Louisville Cardinals. The Cards won the Lexington Region earlier Sunday, much thanks to the ACC Player of the Year’s 24-point outburst.

There’s a chance that the SEC could have two teams from the conference in the Final Four in Columbus. However... South Carolina will have to find a way to defeat the vaunted UConn Huskies in order to do so. Needless to say, the Gamecocks will have their work cut out for them.