WBK Preview: Puerto Rico Clasico

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State women's basketball squad will spend the Thanksgiving Holiday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while participating in the Puerto Rico Clasico on Nov. 26-27. While in Puerto Rico, the Bulldogs will square off against Georgetown and Nebraska.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (4-1) vs Georgetown (3-1)
Date: Friday, Nov. 25 // Time: 10 a.m. CT
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico (Roberto Clemente Coliseum)
Watch: FloSports.com (Subscription Required)
Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Mississippi State (4-1) vs Nebraska (3-2)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 26 // Time: 12:30 p.m. CT
Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico (Roberto Clemente Coliseum)
Watch: FloSports.com (Subscription Required)
Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Numbers To Know
5 • Before this season, and in 108 career games, Asianae Johnson made a combined 3 triples (3-for-34). Johnson has already made five triples in just five games at MSU and is shooting 56% from three (5-for-9).
3rd • Mississippi State is ranked 3rd nationally in blocked shots per game (8 .0). Their total is also the second-best mark in the SEC. Leading the charge has been Jessika Carter, who has 16 blocks this season. JerKaila Jordan is second on the team with 8
4 • Four Bulldogs are currently averaging double-digit points: Jessika Carter (12 .0), JerKaila Jordan (11 .8), Debreasha Powe (11 .2) and Anastasia Hayes (10 .6). Asianae Johnson is following closely behind at 9 .8 points per game
3 • This will be the second and third consecutive games that MSU will play an opponent for the first time in program history. Last Sunday, MSU played Colorado State for the first time in program history.

Series History
• This will be the first time that Mississippi State has played either Georgetown or Nebraska.

Bulldog Takeaways
• On Sunday vs Colorado State, Mississippi State went on an 8-0 run in the final two minutes of the second quarter, including a buzzer-beating triple from Debreasha Powe, to take a 6-point lead into the half. That run proved crucial as MSU and CSU were almost even in the second half. Both teams scored 19 points in the third, while CSU outscored the Bulldogs 14-13 in the final frame.
• With a pair of wins in Puerto Rico, MSU will improve to 6-1 in the young season. It would be the 10th consecutive season that the Bulldogs would start a season 6-1 or better.
• Jessika Carter earned her 600th career rebound in State's win over Colorado State.
• Early in the season, Mississippi State averages nearly eight points per game more this season (79.0) than last season (71.1). The defense has been dramatically improved, allowing teams to score just 52.4 ppg after allowing opponents to score 68.0 ppg last season.

Get-To-Know Georgetown
• The Hoyas enter the matchup in Puerto Rico with a 3-1 record. They have wins against Salem, Coppin State and Cal State Fullerton. Their lone loss came on the road at Temple.
• They are averaging 62.8 points per game while allowing just 50.3 per game, the 27th-best mark in the country.
• Georgetown gets after it on the offensive boards. They currently rank 10th nationally in offensive rebounds per game at 18.0 per contest.
• Jada Claude and Kennedy Fauntleroy lead the Hoyas. Claude is leading the team in scoring at 11.5 ppg, while Fauntleroy is following closely behind at 11.3 ppg. Claude is also the teams leading rebounder at 7.8 boards per game.

Get-To-Know Nebraska
• The Cornhuskers enter Puerto Rico with a 3-2 record. They are coming off a win against Tarleton State on Tuesday.
• Nebraska will open the Puerto Rico Clasico against Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Friday at 12:30 p.m. CT.
• Away from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, The Huskers are 0-2 with losses at Creighton and Drake.
• As a squad, they are averaging 72.6 ppg while allowing 58.8 points to their opponents.
• Nebraska has been without one of their best players in Sam Haiby, a two-time All-Big Ten selection. She made her season debut against Tarleton State on Tuesday, playing six minutes and recording four rebounds.
• Nebraska has three players averaging double-figures through five games. Leading the way has been Alexis Markowski, who is averaging 15.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Following closely behind are Isabelle Bourne (11.4 points and 8.0 rebounds) and Allison Weidner (10.8 points and 5.4 rebounds).
• The Huskers have struggled to get to the free throw line this season, averaging just 10 attempts per game which ranks 331 out of 356 teams. However, when they do get to the line, they make 75% of their free throws as a team.

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)

Up Next
After the Bulldogs conclude their trip to Puerto Rico, Mississippi State will be back inside Humphrey Coliseum on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. CT when they host ULM.

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 –

WBK Preview: Puerto Rico Clasico

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Players Mentioned

Jessika Carter

Anastasia Hayes

Asianae Johnson

Jerkaila Jordan

Debreasha Powe

Mississippi State University Athletics