Carter, Jackson Named Regional Finalists for WBCA All-America Team
March 25, 2020 | Women's Basketball
by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications
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ATLANTA – After posting breakout seasons for Mississippi State, the duo of Rickea Jackson and Jessika Carter continued to earn recognition for the play this year, being tabbed region finalists for 2020 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Team on Wednesday.
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This marks the third year in a row that head coach Vic Schaefer has landed multiple players on the WBCA All-Region II Team. He has nine selections in total, with three of those going on to be named to the WBCA All-America Team. A selection committee will determine the 10-member team from the 52 region finalists from across the country.
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Coming off one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Jackson was one of the top newcomers in all of college basketball. During conference play, the second team All-SEC honoree ranked fifth among all players with 16.5 ppg and eighth in field goal percentage (.480) while being the team's second-leading rebounder at 5.4 rpg. She was the only freshman to earn SEC All-Tournament Team recognition after averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to their fifth-straight SEC Tournament championship game.
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While being the focal point of every team's defense, Jackson recorded eight 20-point efforts, all of which came against SEC opponents. She was the only freshman in the conference to score 30 points in a game, notching a career-best 34 points in MSU's win at Auburn. For the year, the SEC All-Freshman Team recipient led the Bulldogs in scoring (15.1 ppg) and was third in rebounding (5.1 rpg).
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Jackson scored in double figures in 23 games, including 18 games with at least 15 points, and shot 50 percent or better from the field 15 times. The three-time SEC Freshman of the Week notched four double-doubles this year, including two during the SEC Tournament.
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After spending the majority of her freshman campaign in a back-up role behind Teaira McCowan, Carter was considered one of the most improved players in the country this season. The sophomore forward significantly increased her scoring by 9.8 ppg and rebounding by 5.6 rpg. The second team All-SEC recipient led State 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).
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Nationally, Carter ranked inside the top 50 in Division I in field goal percentage (13th), offensive rebounds per game (28th), total blocks (37th), total rebounds (41st) and double-doubles (45th).
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During SEC play, Carter averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and shot a league-best 65 percent from the field. She notched six of her 11 double-doubles during league play. For the season, she scored in double figures 22 times and posted 13 games with 15 or more points. On the other end of the floor, Carter had 19 games with multiple blocks, highlighted by a season-high five blocks against South Carolina.
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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."
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ATLANTA – After posting breakout seasons for Mississippi State, the duo of Rickea Jackson and Jessika Carter continued to earn recognition for the play this year, being tabbed region finalists for 2020 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches' All-America Team on Wednesday.
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This marks the third year in a row that head coach Vic Schaefer has landed multiple players on the WBCA All-Region II Team. He has nine selections in total, with three of those going on to be named to the WBCA All-America Team. A selection committee will determine the 10-member team from the 52 region finalists from across the country.
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Coming off one of the best freshman seasons in program history, Jackson was one of the top newcomers in all of college basketball. During conference play, the second team All-SEC honoree ranked fifth among all players with 16.5 ppg and eighth in field goal percentage (.480) while being the team's second-leading rebounder at 5.4 rpg. She was the only freshman to earn SEC All-Tournament Team recognition after averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to their fifth-straight SEC Tournament championship game.
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While being the focal point of every team's defense, Jackson recorded eight 20-point efforts, all of which came against SEC opponents. She was the only freshman in the conference to score 30 points in a game, notching a career-best 34 points in MSU's win at Auburn. For the year, the SEC All-Freshman Team recipient led the Bulldogs in scoring (15.1 ppg) and was third in rebounding (5.1 rpg).
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Jackson scored in double figures in 23 games, including 18 games with at least 15 points, and shot 50 percent or better from the field 15 times. The three-time SEC Freshman of the Week notched four double-doubles this year, including two during the SEC Tournament.
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After spending the majority of her freshman campaign in a back-up role behind Teaira McCowan, Carter was considered one of the most improved players in the country this season. The sophomore forward significantly increased her scoring by 9.8 ppg and rebounding by 5.6 rpg. The second team All-SEC recipient led State 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).
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Nationally, Carter ranked inside the top 50 in Division I in field goal percentage (13th), offensive rebounds per game (28th), total blocks (37th), total rebounds (41st) and double-doubles (45th).
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During SEC play, Carter averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and shot a league-best 65 percent from the field. She notched six of her 11 double-doubles during league play. For the season, she scored in double figures 22 times and posted 13 games with 15 or more points. On the other end of the floor, Carter had 19 games with multiple blocks, highlighted by a season-high five blocks against South Carolina.
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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."
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