PREVIEW: #14 Women’s Hoops vs. Alabama

STARKVILLE – No. 14 Mississippi State stays at home again Thursday, as the Bulldogs host Alabama for a 7 p.m. tip at Humphrey Coliseum.

The contest is State's "We Back Pat" game, which is a week-long initiative in its 10th season that focuses on raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease and the Pat Summitt Foundation's role in fighting it. Summitt, a legendary coach and pioneer for women's basketball, was Nikki McCray-Penson's head coach during her playing days at the University of Tennessee.

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 will open one hour before tip. Fans who plan to attend the game are encouraged to review the Mississippi State Gameday Guidelines.

Mississippi State (8-2, 3-1 SEC) is coming off a 60-56 win against in-state rival Ole Miss on Sunday. Jessika Carter posted another strong performance, nearly recording a double-double with a team-high 19 points, nine rebounds and one block. Aliyah Matharu provided a huge offensive spark off the bench. The SEC Sixth Woman of the Year candidate finished the contest with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including four 3-pointers, four assists, two rebounds and one block.

Alabama (10-1, 3-1 SEC) enters the game on the heels of an 80-56 victory against Vanderbilt on Sunday. The Crimson Tide is led by its senior trio of Jasmine Walker, Jordan Lewis and Ariyah Copeland, who all average double-digit scoring. Walker is the team leader in points (20.3 ppg) and rebounds (10.1 rpg), while Lewis averages 15.8 points per game and Copeland chips in 15.7 points per game.

After winning six in a row, Mississippi State fell at home to the Crimson Tide last season 66-64. Alabama overcame a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter and tipped in the game-winning basket at the buzzer to top the Bulldogs. Walker fueled the comeback by scoring all 20 of her points in the second half, including 10 points in the final frame. Carter led the way for Mississippi State with her 10th double-double of the season, recording 18 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

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 139 wins, which is tied for the second-most victories in all of Division I. UConn leads the way with 143 wins, while Baylor also boasts 139.
With MSU being tabbed No. 14 in the most recent poll, the Bulldogs have now spent 122 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 33rd overall with 79.4 ppg.
State's high-scoring offense has been the result of its efficient shooting. The Bulldogs are shooting the ball at a 47-percent clip for the year, which ranks 24th in the country and third in the SEC. From beyond the arc, MSU is knocking down threes at a .368 rate, which is 37th in the country and third in the SEC.
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).
One of the most efficient posts in the country, Jessika Carter ranks 12th among active Division I players in career field goal percentage (.569). She owns 16 career double-doubles and leads the team in scoring (17.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.3 rpg) this season.
Rickea Jackson, who was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 watch list, is averaging 16.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The sophomore forward owns two 30-point efforts and 10 games with 20+ points during her career.
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 the nation's seventh-best assist/turnover ratio at 4.30.
On the year, MSU is outscoring opposing teams 430-182 in the paint. That's an average margin of more than 34.8 points per game. State's 430 points in the paint accounts for 54 percent of its total scoring this season, despite a greater emphasis on shooting 3-pointers on offense compared to past years.
A major scoring threat and huge spark off the bench for Mississippi State, Aliyah Matharu is making a strong case for SEC Sixth Woman of the Year. The sophomore guard is ranks third on the team in scoring with 10.5 points per game. She's shooting 50 percent from the floor and 42 percent from beyond the arc. Matharu has increased her production in other areas since last year, averaging 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
MSU's 2020-21 roster boasts three McDonald's All-Americans in Rickea Jackson, Sidney Cooks and Madison Hayes.

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