Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
PREVIEW: Women’s Basketball Ready For Holiday Hoops in Daytona Beach
November 24, 2021 | Women's Basketball
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball will compete in the Daytona Beach Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. Over the Thanksgiving holiday. The Bulldogs will get the event started on Thursday, Nov. 25, against Dayton before playing No. 12/9 Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 27.
GAME INFORMATION
MSU (4-0, 0-0 SEC) vs Dayton (3-1, 0-0 A-10)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 25 // Time: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ocean Center Convention Center)
Watch: FloSports.com (paid subscription required) // Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)
MSU (4-0, 0-0 SEC) vs No. 12/9 Michigan (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 27 // Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ocean Center Convention Center)
Watch: FloSports.com (paid subscription required) // Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)
Impressive Statistics
• The season is just a few weeks old, but Mississippi State is already sporting some impressive statistical numbers.
• The offense has been there early, with State averaging 86.8 points per game this season, ranking second in the SEC and 14th nationally. A big reason for MSU's strong offensive numbers so far is due to how well they have taken care of the ball. State ranks fifth in the NCAA, first in the SEC, in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.68.
• MSU is averaging just 10 turnovers a game, the fourth-fewest in the county.
• The Bulldogs are protecting the paint with 37 blocked shots on the year and averaging 9.2 per contest which is the third-most blocked shots per game, averaging in the nation and best mark in the SEC. Leading the way in blocked shots this season for State has been Rickea Jackson and Denae Carter, who each have nine. Following closely behind is JerKaila Jordan with six and Raven Farley and Charlotte Kohl with four each.
• Jackson has also been a force on the offensive end, averaging 22.0 points per game, the 15th best average in the country and the best mark in the SEC. Jordan is second on the team in scoring at 19.5 ppg, the fifth-best average in the SEC.
State In Early Season Tournaments
• When Mississippi State takes the floor on Thursday, it will be the first time that MSU will have played a game in Daytona Beach, Fla.
• MSU last played in an early-season tournament in 2019 when they played in Victoria, Canada and Las Vegas. State went 4-1 in those events and enters the Daytona Beach Invitational on a two-game tournament winning streak. Jackson was named the tournament MVP in Las Vegas.
• Since the 2014-15 season, Mississippi State owns a record of 25-1 in early season tournaments.
Series Histories
• This will be just the second time in program history that Mississippi State and Dayton have met. Dayton leads the all-time series 1-0, with that lone meeting coming back on Dec. 27, 1981. Dayton defeated MSU 66-64.
• This is the first time that Mississippi State and Michigan have met on the hardwood.
Get-To-Know Dayton
• Dayton enters the invitational with a 3-1 record to its name. They have wins against Alabama A&M, Toledo and Purdue, with their only loss coming at home against Duke (56-70).
• The Flyers are averaging 69.0 points per game and holding their opponents to just 61.0 points per contest. The Flyers are shooting 42.4 percent overall, 32.2 percent from three-point range, and 69.9 percent from the free-throw line
• Dayton is led by Erin Whalen, who is averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Makira Cook has scored in double-digits in three games and averages just over 15 points per game in those three outings.
Get-To-Know Michigan
• Michigan has been on a roll early this season, jumping out to a 5-0 start. It's Michigan's second-straight season starting 5-0. Last season they started 10-0.
• Defense has been a key to Michigan's hot start so far. The Wolverines are rank third in scoring defense in the Big Ten at 53.0 points per game allowed while holding opponents to just 35% shooting, the fifth-best mark in the Big Ten.
• All five of Michigan's opponents this season have been held to under 40% shooting and only IUPUI has scored more than 60 points against the Wolverines.
• Naz Hamilton leads the way for Michigan, averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting 70% from the field.
To Watch The Game
As a reminder, both games vs Dayton and Michigan are being streamed live at FloSports.com. A paid subscription is required to watch.
Up Next
Following its road trip to Daytona Beach, Mississippi State will be back at home on Wednesday, Dec. 1, to take on McNeese State at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will then be on the road once again for their first true road game of the season when they travel to Norman, Okla., for the Big 12/SEC Challenge, where they will take on the University of Oklahoma on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK.
GAME INFORMATION
MSU (4-0, 0-0 SEC) vs Dayton (3-1, 0-0 A-10)
Date: Thursday, Nov. 25 // Time: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ocean Center Convention Center)
Watch: FloSports.com (paid subscription required) // Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)
MSU (4-0, 0-0 SEC) vs No. 12/9 Michigan (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 27 // Time: 3:30 p.m. CT
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. (Ocean Center Convention Center)
Watch: FloSports.com (paid subscription required) // Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)
Impressive Statistics
• The season is just a few weeks old, but Mississippi State is already sporting some impressive statistical numbers.
• The offense has been there early, with State averaging 86.8 points per game this season, ranking second in the SEC and 14th nationally. A big reason for MSU's strong offensive numbers so far is due to how well they have taken care of the ball. State ranks fifth in the NCAA, first in the SEC, in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.68.
• MSU is averaging just 10 turnovers a game, the fourth-fewest in the county.
• The Bulldogs are protecting the paint with 37 blocked shots on the year and averaging 9.2 per contest which is the third-most blocked shots per game, averaging in the nation and best mark in the SEC. Leading the way in blocked shots this season for State has been Rickea Jackson and Denae Carter, who each have nine. Following closely behind is JerKaila Jordan with six and Raven Farley and Charlotte Kohl with four each.
• Jackson has also been a force on the offensive end, averaging 22.0 points per game, the 15th best average in the country and the best mark in the SEC. Jordan is second on the team in scoring at 19.5 ppg, the fifth-best average in the SEC.
State In Early Season Tournaments
• When Mississippi State takes the floor on Thursday, it will be the first time that MSU will have played a game in Daytona Beach, Fla.
• MSU last played in an early-season tournament in 2019 when they played in Victoria, Canada and Las Vegas. State went 4-1 in those events and enters the Daytona Beach Invitational on a two-game tournament winning streak. Jackson was named the tournament MVP in Las Vegas.
• Since the 2014-15 season, Mississippi State owns a record of 25-1 in early season tournaments.
Series Histories
• This will be just the second time in program history that Mississippi State and Dayton have met. Dayton leads the all-time series 1-0, with that lone meeting coming back on Dec. 27, 1981. Dayton defeated MSU 66-64.
• This is the first time that Mississippi State and Michigan have met on the hardwood.
Get-To-Know Dayton
• Dayton enters the invitational with a 3-1 record to its name. They have wins against Alabama A&M, Toledo and Purdue, with their only loss coming at home against Duke (56-70).
• The Flyers are averaging 69.0 points per game and holding their opponents to just 61.0 points per contest. The Flyers are shooting 42.4 percent overall, 32.2 percent from three-point range, and 69.9 percent from the free-throw line
• Dayton is led by Erin Whalen, who is averaging 16.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Makira Cook has scored in double-digits in three games and averages just over 15 points per game in those three outings.
Get-To-Know Michigan
• Michigan has been on a roll early this season, jumping out to a 5-0 start. It's Michigan's second-straight season starting 5-0. Last season they started 10-0.
• Defense has been a key to Michigan's hot start so far. The Wolverines are rank third in scoring defense in the Big Ten at 53.0 points per game allowed while holding opponents to just 35% shooting, the fifth-best mark in the Big Ten.
• All five of Michigan's opponents this season have been held to under 40% shooting and only IUPUI has scored more than 60 points against the Wolverines.
• Naz Hamilton leads the way for Michigan, averaging 23.3 points per game while shooting 70% from the field.
To Watch The Game
As a reminder, both games vs Dayton and Michigan are being streamed live at FloSports.com. A paid subscription is required to watch.
Up Next
Following its road trip to Daytona Beach, Mississippi State will be back at home on Wednesday, Dec. 1, to take on McNeese State at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs will then be on the road once again for their first true road game of the season when they travel to Norman, Okla., for the Big 12/SEC Challenge, where they will take on the University of Oklahoma on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK.
– HailState.com –
Players Mentioned
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