Bill Text: MS HR81 | 2019 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Mississippi State University "Lady Bulldogs" Women's Basketball Team; commend and congratulate on winning first SEC Tournament Championship.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-20 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR81 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2019-HR81-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2019 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representative Taylor
House Resolution 81
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY "LADY BULLDOGS" WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH VIC SCHAEFER FOR WINNING THE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP.
WHEREAS, we join the Mississippi State University "Lady Bulldogs" Women's Basketball Team and all of Bulldog Nation in celebrating another special record-breaking season, which is comprised of an overall 30-2 season record, which also consisted of a 15-1 conference record and an eight-game winning streak; and
WHEREAS, the No. 5 seeded Mississippi State Women's Basketball Team, which has become a juggernaut in women's collegiate basketball, throttled the 10th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks in a fast-paced, full-court pressed 101-70 victory on Sunday, March 10, 2019, to capture the first ever women's team SEC Championship in school history at Greenville, South Carolina's Bon Secours Wellness Arena; and
WHEREAS, still riding on the momentum of their 2018 NCAA Final Four Women's Tournament and three-point, nail-biting, heart-wrenching runner-up championship finish, the Lady Bulldogs have committed themselves to an all or nothing attitude and work ethic, which enabled them to break through the previously impenetrable barrier that plagued them for three consecutive seasons; and
WHEREAS, guided by senior center and SEC Player of the Year, Teaira McCowan, who played through all three of the painstaking losses to South Carolina in the last three SEC title games and who was unmatched by any Arkansas defender, leading the pack with 24 points and 14 rebounds, which marked her 27th double-double of the season, the Lady Bulldogs were also catapulted up the scoring Richter scale by the stellar performances of sophomore guards Andra Espinoza-Hunter, who contributed 24 points, and Bre'Amber Scott, who dropped 20 additional points to the Bulldogs' cache; and
WHEREAS, when senior forward Anriel Howard, who served as one of State's key igniters in the first two tournament wins and scored six quick points in the first quarter and appeared to be on pace for another big game, had to sit out the entire second quarter due to foul trouble, other Bulldogs stepped up big time in her absence, including senior point guard Jazzmun Holmes, who had nine first-half assists and 12 total game assists, with only two turnovers throughout the entire tournament; and
WHEREAS, the message for any impending rival was made evidently clear Sunday night when Mississippi State Head Coach Vic Schaefer, now in his seventh year, climbed the ladder, snipped the net and rang a cowbell, that the Lady Bulldogs were finally on top as the Southeastern Conference Tournament powerhouse, where they intend to stay for the remainder of the ride into the finale of the 2019 NCAA Finals, while coaches and fans alike, from around the country sat up and took notice of the coaching job Vic Schaefer has done the past several seasons at Mississippi State; and
WHEREAS, Coach Schaefer and the standout players guided this season's Bulldogs' squad to the program's second consecutive Southeastern Conference Regular Season Championship, which gave the team its ninth consecutive win over the Razorbacks and surpassed Georgia's 94 points in winning the 1986 event, while also advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi State University 2018-2019 "Lady Bulldogs" Basketball NCAA Tournament Team roster is comprised of: grad student, Anriel Howard, F; seniors, Jordan Danberry, G; Jazzmun Holmes, G; and Teaira McCowan, C; junior, Zion Campbell, C; sophomores, Chloe Bibby, F; Andra Espinoza-Hunter, G; Bre'Amber Scott, G; Nyah Tate, G; and Promise Taylor, C; freshmen, Jessika Carter, F/C; Myah Taylor, G; and Xaria Wiggins, G/F; Head Coach Vic Schaefer; Associate Head Coach, Johnnie Harris; and Assistant Coaches, Dionnah Jackson-Durrett and Elena Lovato; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize the special accomplishments by these dedicated university athletes who have brought honor to their university, their community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby congratulate the Mississippi State University "Lady Bulldogs" Women's Basketball Team and Head Coach Vic Schaefer for winning the university's first Southeastern Conference Tournament Championship, recognize all team members for a special season, and extend best wishes for continued success in all their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Head Coach Vic Schaefer, Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
