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Preview: The No. 5 Mississippi State Bulldogs can claim the SEC Championship outright on Sunday

To clinch the crown, the Bulldogs must topple the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks on the road. With the title on the line, it won’t be easy. If they lose, they’ll share the title with the Gamecocks.

By Tamryn Spruill
NCAA Womens Basketball: SEC Conference Tournament-South Carolina vs Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan (#15) is averaging a double-double for the season and is at the forefront of the Defensive Player of the Year race.
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The SEC No. 1 seed Mississippi State Bulldogs look to clinch the SEC Championship outright against the SEC No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday. The Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak heading into the final regular-season game.

Mississippi State enters the game in high spirits after celebrating Senior Night on Thursday, Feb. 28, by claiming a 20-point blowout victory over the LSU Tigers and a share of the SEC title. Double-double queen Teaira McCowan recorded the 62nd of her career with 25 points and 13 rebounds. But Mississippi State has benefited from its bench depth all season, averaging 87 points per game to the Gamecocks’ 76 and allowing just 57 points per game to South Carolina’s 65.

Te’a Cooper has most often been the team-high scorer for the No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks, but the following teammates have also led the team in scoring this season: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Bianca Cuevas-Moore, Alexis Jennings, Destanni Henderson, Nelly Perry, Tyasha Harris and Doniyah Cliney. So, for the Gamecocks, it will be a matter of feeding whichever player happens to have the hot hand.

With Hall of Famer Dawn Staley drawing up plays, the Gamecocks cannot be underestimated. But, as Teaira McCowan goes, the Bulldogs go — she has recorded a double-double in all but four games this season and scored in double figures in every game. If McCowan records her 63rd double-double of the season, and at least two of her Bulldogs’ teammates score in double figures, Mississippi State should win the game and avenge the SEC Championship.

Game information

No. 5 Mississippi State Bulldogs (26-2, 14-1) at No. 14 South Carolina Gamecocks (21-7, 13-2)

When: Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. ET

Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC

How to watch: ESPN2

All 14 teams of the SEC are in action Sunday, with action tipping off at 1 p.m. ET on SEC Network. Click here for the complete gameday schedule.

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