A Bulldog Block Party

STARKVILLE – Size isn't exactly one of the strengths for Mississippi State women's basketball this season.

The Bulldogs have only had three players over 6-feet tall on the court during their 6-1 start but are currently leading the country with 8.4 blocked shots per game.

"I don't feel like we let our height define us," said junior forward Rickea Jackson. "I feel like other teams aren't intimidated by us when they see us because of our height. But when they see our tenacity on defense, they know that we are really good. We're just fearless."

Jackson and freshman forward Denae Carter are tied for the team lead and rank fourth in the Southeastern Conference averaging two blocks per game. Jackson is listed at 6-foot-1 while Carter is an even 6-foot.

"We know that we're pretty small and people kind of take us for granted," Carter said. "We can definitely get up and down with them and jump with them."

But the blocks aren't solely coming from MSU's forwards and centers. The Bulldogs' third-leading rebounder is 5-foot-9 guard JerKaila Jordan. The sophomore transfer from Tulane has swatted 12 shots and is averaging 1.7 per game.

"She gets off the floor very fast and has extremely good timing where she can block a shot," said interim head coach Doug Novak.

As a team, Mississippi State's block totals have reached double figures in three of its seven contests this season. The Bulldogs posted a dozen blocks against Bethune-Cookman and had 11 against both Alabama State and McNeese State.

"In practice, we're always jumping whether it's for blocks or rebounds," Carter said. "I feel like that helps us in games because everyone wants to get the block."

MSU may not have an inside presence like Martha Alwal or Teaira McCowan to serve as a rim protector like it has had in the past. But the Bulldogs are making a concerted team effort to try and block shots any way that they can.

"Sometimes it's about timing and having fast hands," Novak said. "We're getting a lot of blocks from different positions. The better we can stay in front of the ball or at least build a wall, then that backside defender can get a block. We're not swinging and swatting at these things, we're just tipping them. A big emphasis for us is to get a hand on the ball, however we can do it."

Mississippi State will try and add to its block party when it travels to Oklahoma on Saturday at 2 p.m. to take on the Sooners in the Big 12/ SEC Challenge.

Players Mentioned

Denae Carter

Rickea Jackson

Jerkaila Jordan

Mississippi State University Athletics