State women hold at No. 6

Mississippi State seniors Teaira McCowan and Anriel Howard landed on another preseason player of the year award watch list as the Bulldogs stayed at No. 6 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

The Bulldogs, off to a 2-0 start to the year, notched their nation's sixth-best 76th week in a row in the poll. Coach Vic Schaefer's squad claimed its 40th-consecutive week in the top 10, the fifth-longest current run in the country.

McCowan and Howard were two key factors in State's wins against Southeast Missouri and Virginia, and the pair was chosen to the watch list for the Citizen Naismith Trophy.

McCowan recorded back-to-back double-doubles to begin the year, her seventh- and eighth-straight going back to last season. The Brenham, Texas, native is scoring 18 points per game and grabbing 14.5 rebounds to begin her senior season. She also tops the nation with 11 blocked shots, a 5.5 average. McCowan swatted a career-high seven shots in the season opener before blocking four more in the road win at Virginia.

The school record-holder with 41-career double-doubles, McCowan moved into 12th on MSU's career scoring list with 1,316 points. She rates second in MSU career history with 1,044 career rebounds and 195 blocks.

Howard has started her Bulldog career averaging 8.5 points and eight rebounds through two games. She has made 8-of-15 shots from the field for 53.3 percent. The Atlanta, Georgia, native tallied nine points and seven rebounds against Southeast Missouri before collecting eight points, nine rebounds and three blocks at Virginia.

She brings 33 career double-doubles to Mississippi State, and her 1,018-career rebounds are second among active Southeastern Conference players behind McCowan.