PREVIEW: #13 Women’s Hoops vs. Southern

STARKVILLE – No. 13 Mississippi State is set for its second matchup of a three-game homestand, as the Bulldogs host Southern at Humphrey Coliseum on Friday, Dec. 18, for a 7 p.m. CT tip.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Bart Gregory (play-by-play) and Charlie Winfield (analyst) on the call. The matchup can also be streamed on the MSU Radio Network with Jason Crowder.

Doors to Humphrey Coliseum open 60 minutes prior to tipoff. Fans who plan to attend the game are encouraged to review the Mississippi State Gameday Guidelines.

Mississippi State (3-1) enters the contest coming off a hot shooting performance against Troy. The Bulldogs knocked down a program-record 18 3-pointers, which also matched the SEC record. Rickea Jackson posted the second 30-point game of her career, while Sidney Cooks recorded a personal-best 26 points. Both players knocked down a career-high six treys each.

Southern (0-4) enters the game on the heels of an 86-52 at Baylor on Wednesday. Genovea Johnson has been the biggest scoring threat for the Jaguars, averaging 17.7 points per game on 43-percent shooting.

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 134 wins, which is the third-most victories in all of Division I. UConn leads the way with 138 wins, while Baylor boasts 136.
With MSU being tabbed No. 13 in the most recent poll, the Bulldogs have now spent 118 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. This season, MSU ranks 11th overall with 90.0 ppg.
In their game against Troy, the Bulldogs broke the program record and matched the SEC record for 3-pointers made in a single game (18). State ranks 25th in the country in both threes made per game (9.2) and 3-point field goal percentage (.39.4).
State returned 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, who is also a Wooden Award candidate, is averaging 20.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The sophomore forward owns two 30-point efforts and nine 20-points games during her career.
One of the most efficient posts in the country, Jessika Carter ranks 11th among active Division I players in career field goal percentage (.569). She owns 12 double-doubles and is second the team in scoring this season with 14.5 ppg.
After ranking eighth in the country and leading the SEC in assist/turnover ratio (2.80) last season, Myah Taylor picked up right where she left off. The redshirt junior guard currently boasts a nation-best 22.0 assist/turnover ratio.
MSU's 2020-21 roster boasts three McDonald's All-Americans in Rickea Jackson, Sidney Cooks and 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."