STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Vic Schaefer has been searching for a way to jolt Mississippi State out of its late-season funk, so in the first round of the NCAA Tournament the coach did something drastic.
Star veterans Victoria Vivians, Dominique Dillingham and Chinwe Okorie were banished to the bench. Role players like Blair Schaefer, Roshunda Johnson and Ketara Chapel were promoted to the starting lineup.
At least for one day, the shake-up worked.
Blair Schaefer — the coach's daughter — scored a career-high 21 points, Ameshya Williams added 15 and Mississippi State enjoyed a dominant 110-69 victory over Troy on Friday afternoon.