Trojans Set to Face Mississippi State in NCAA First Round

Friday, March 17

Starkville, Miss.

1:30 PM

Troy University

Mississippi State

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Trojans Set to Face Mississippi State in NCAA First Round

3/16/2017 5:05:00 PM | Basketball (W)

By: Wes Johnson

WatchESPN | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes

STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the second consecutive season, the Troy women's basketball team will compete in the NCAA Tournament as the No. 15 Trojans take on No. 2 Mississippi State on Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Humphrey Coliseum.

Troy (22-10) earned its berth into the NCAA Tournament by winning the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the second straight year; the Trojans defeated UL Lafayette, 78-64, on Sunday. Caitlyn Ramirez leads the team averaging a double-double with 13.2 points and 10.6 rebounds.

Mississippi State (29-4) fell in the SEC Tournament to South Carolina, but capped an historic season with a school record 29 wins. Bulldogs head coach Vic Schaefer is a Naismith Coach of the Year finalist after leading the team to its highest league finish in school history (second).

BROADCAST INFO
TV: ESPN2
Online: WatchESPN.com
Radio: WTBF 94.7 FM
Online: TroyTrojans.com
Live Stats: NCAA.StatBroadcast.com

SERIES HISTORY
MISSISSIPPI STATE (29-4)
Overall Series: MSU leads 11-2
Last: MSU won 82-60
Dec. 29, 2012 (in Starkville)

NOTEWORTHY
• Troy is making its third appearance in the NCAA Tournament (second consecutive). Prior to last season, the Trojans' only previous appearance in the tournament came in 1997 when the program won the Mid-Continent Tournament (now Summit League).

• The Trojans have now won six straight games in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament after sweeping the event last season as well. As the No. 3 seed Troy defeated No. 11 Arkansas State, No. 2 UT Arlington and No. 5 UL Lafayette en route to the championship.

• Senior forward Caitlyn Ramirez was named Sun Belt Conference Tournament MVP after averaging 15.0 points and 15.7 rebounds over the team's three games.

• In Troy's quarterfinal game against Arkansas State, Ramirez set a new Troy single-game and Sun Belt Conference Tournament record with 22 rebounds (9 off., 13 def.).

• Troy has outrebounded its opponents 208-102 in its three games in the Sun Belt Tournament. In the quarterfinals, The Trojans beat Arkansas State on the glass by a +47 margin (86-39).

• In the team's quarterfinal win over Arkansas State on Thursday, the Trojans recorded 86 rebounds, tied for second-most in NCAA history. Caitlyn Ramirez hauled in 22, which set new Troy Division I and Sun Belt Conference Tournament records.

For more information on Troy women's basketball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWBB.

The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy. New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12. For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the @FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.