PREVIEW: #6 WBK Hoops vs. Jackson State

Sunday, November 29

Starkville

3:00 PM

Mississippi State

Jackson State

PREVIEW: #6 WBK Hoops vs. Jackson State

November 28, 2020 | Women's Basketball

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STARKVILLE – Nikki McCray-Penson will make her head coaching debut for the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Sunday, Nov. 29, as the Bulldogs host Jackson State at Humphrey Coliseum in the 2020-21 season opener.

The contest will begin at 3 p.m. CT and will only be streamed live on the MSU Radio Network. Fans will not be allowed at the game.

Earlier in the week, the 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge was canceled due to COVID-related circumstances. The Bulldogs were slated to play Maine on Saturday and then face either UConn or Quinnipiac on Sunday.

Bulldog Storylines

Mississippi State enters a new era during the 2020-21 campaign, as women's basketball hall of famer Nikki McCray-Penson takes the helm of the women's basketball program. The Collierville, Tenn., native boasts a decorated resume to this point in her career.
- 2017 National Championship
- 2x Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2x SEC Player of the Year
- 3x WNBA All-Star
- 1997 ABL MVP
- 1997 ABL Championship
Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Mississippi State owns 131 wins, which is tied for the second-most victories in all of Division I. The Bulldogs are tied with Baylor for second, while UConn leads the way with 136 wins.
With MSU being tabbed No. 6 in the preseason poll, the Bulldogs have now spent 115 consecutive weeks inside the AP Top 25, continuing the longest streak in program history and the fifth-longest active streak in the country.
During the last few years, Mississippi State has developed into one of the top scoring offenses in the nation. The Bulldogs ranked inside the top 25 in scoring during each of the last four seasons.
State returns three starters from last year's squad, and they've each earned preseason recognition for their talent. Rickea Jackson and Jessika Carter are both candidates for the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy, while point guard Myah Taylor made the Nancy Lieberman Award preseason watch list.
Rickea Jackson led the Bulldogs in scoring last year with 15.1 ppg. The second team All-SEC selection posted eight games with 20-plus points and recorded four double-doubles.
After stepping into a starting role last year, Jessika Carter led the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg), blocks (1.8 bpg), field goal percentage (.585) and double-doubles (11) and was second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg).
Myah Taylor quietly put together a strong season in 2019-20. The Olive Branch, Miss., native ranked eighth in the country and led the SEC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.80. She paced the Bulldogs in assists (151) and ranked second in steals (63) while also averaging 5.6 points per game on 46 percent shooting.
Prior to the 2019 class, the Mississippi State women's basketball team had never signed a McDonald's All-American. Entering this season, the Bulldogs boast three All-Americans in National Player of the Year candidate Rickea Jackson, Michigan State transfer Sidney Cooks and five-star freshman Madison Hayes.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK."