WBK Preview: vs Alabama State

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball is back home inside Humphrey Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 18, when the Bulldogs welcome Alabama State to town. The contest will tipoff at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (2-1) vs Alabama State (0-2)
Date: Friday, Nov. 18 // Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Watch: SEC Network+ (Talent: Bart Gregory & Charlie Winfield)
Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Numbers To Know
2K • Anastasia Hayes reached the 2,000-career point milestone on Monday. The graduate student from Murfreesboro, Tenn., needed 15-points to reach 2,000, and from half court, as the buzzer sounded, Hayes sank a three to give her 15-points for the game and 2,000 for her career. While wearing the Maroon & White, Hayes has scored 488 points.
8.3 • Mississippi State is averaging 8 3 blocks per game, which ranks third nationally and second in the SEC. Leading the way has been Jessika Carter, who leads the SEC with nine blocked shots this season.
2 • Jessika Carter and Debreasha Powe have each recorded two double-doubles this season in just three games. They are the only pair of teammates ranked in the top 10 for total double-doubles
19.3 • Mississippi State's 3-point percentage defense has been excellent so far this season. Opponents are making just 19.3% of their attempted 3-point shots.

Series History
• This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Mississippi State and Alabama State and the second in as many seasons.
• The Bulldogs have won all five meetings and own a perfect 5-0 record against the Hornets in Starkville.
• Last season MSU and ASU met inside The Hump on Nov. 9, also opening night, a game that MSU won by a score of 91-62. In last year's meeting, Annie scored 17-points with four rebounds and three assists, while JerKaila Jordan added 15-points, six boards, two blocked shots and two steals.

Bulldog Takeaways
• Mississippi State is 2-1 on the year after dropping a 0ne-point contest on the road at South Dakota State.
• Debreasha Powe played the full 40-minutes against the Jackrabbits. It was the first time she had played the entire game in her young career. She is also the first Bulldog to have played a complete game this season.
• Anastasia Hayes continues to shine as the team's floor general. She leads the way with 19 assists, ranking second in the SEC and 32nd in the country.
• As a team, MSU is averaging 81.0 points per game and allowing just 50.0. State is also shooting 46% from the floor through three games.

2023 Signing Class
• The early signing period ended on Wednesday, with Mississippi State signing four players for the 2023-24 season. The class was ranked as high as 16th nationally following the signing of Quanirah Cherry-Montague but should climb with the addition of junior college star Meloney Thames.
• Quanirah Cherry-Montague (Atlantic City, N.J.) – rated as a 4-star recruit and the No. 48 player in the nation
• Jasmine Powell (Joliet, Ill.) – rated as a 4-star recruit and the No. 54 player in the nation
• Mjracel Sheppard (Bellevue, Wash.) – rated as a 4-star recruit and the No. 86 player in the nation
• Meloney Thames (Choctaw, Miss.) – Junior College All-American, Second in the nation in scoring (26.3 ppg)

Get-To-Know Alabama State
• Alabama State enters Friday with an 0-2 record. Their losses have come on the road at SMU (76-39) and Georgia (77-47).
• Following their game in Starkville, ASU will travel to Auburn, Texas Tech and TCU. They will not play their first home game until Dec. 7, when they host Samford.
• The Hornets are coached by Freda Freeman-Jackson, who is in her 25th season as the head coach at Alabama State.
• Alabama State was picked to finish second in the SWAC, behind Jackson State.
• ASU is averaging 43.0 points per game while allowing 76.5 ppg. They are led offensively by Ayana Emmanuel, averaging 12.0 points per contest.

Game Promotions
• Canned Food Drive, Kids Kourt, Posters, Schedule Cards

Up Next
The Bulldogs will be back home on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 3 p.m. when they host Colorado State (3-0). This will be the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and the Rams.

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 –

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Players Mentioned

Jessika Carter

Anastasia Hayes

Jerkaila Jordan

Debreasha Powe

Mississippi State University Athletics