Jessika Carter Joins 1,000 Point Club in SEC Opening Victory

Thursday, December 29

Nashville, Tenn.

5:00 PM

Mississippi State

12-2,1-0SEC

Vanderbilt

9-6,0-1SEC

Mississippi St.

Vanderbilt

Jessika Carter Joins 1,000 Point Club in SEC Opening Victory

December 29, 2022 | Women's Basketball

Box Score PDF Box Score

By: Kelly Shipp, Assistant Director/Communications

NASHVILLE – Mississippi State's Jessika Carter joined the exclusive 1,000-point club at MSU as the 28th all-time member. On Thursday, Carter and the Bulldogs opened SEC play with a 72-44 win over Vanderbilt in Historic Memorial Gymnasium to open SEC play. The win improves State's record to 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.

The Bulldogs' three-point shooting carried over from Tampa as State outshot the Commodores, 45% (9-for-20) to 24% (6-for-25). Mississippi State had five players knock down a three-pointer in the contest. The Bulldogs opened the first three quarters with a three-point shot, Debreasha Powe opened the first and second quarters with a three, and Ahlana Smith opened the third with a triple. State outscored the Commodores 40-14 in the paint, holding Vanderbilt to just 25% shooting from the field.

Jessika Carter had a historic night against Vanderbilt, becoming the 28th member to join the exclusive 1,000-point club. Carter recorded her 25th career double-double and seventh this season, scoring 21 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Carter scored 20+ points in back-to-back games this season, her first 20-point game against Old Dominion, scoring 29 points.

Game Notes:
• The Bulldogs had four players scoring in double-digits, Jessika Carter (21), Johnson (11), Smith and Powe (10)
• Anastasia Hayes paced the Bulldog offense with seven assists. Johnson added five and Smith added four
• Powe finished the game with 10 points and nine rebounds
• Johnson added four steals to her totals

Quoting Coach Purcell:
On the emotions with the first SEC win
"It's a lot; it is because 20-something years ago, I started in the SEC as a student coach at Auburn with a dream of trying to work for the best of the best and hopefully running a program that is one of the top in the country and it's funny how God works out and the blessings that have come my way. This opportunity is truly just a blessing and a day I'll never forget."

On Jessika Carter 1,000 career points
"I keep saying it from day one, I think I've got one of the best post players in the country, and there is nothing better but that I could say that, but the stats are proving it. From her to have 21 points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes, she was in foul trouble, imagine if she wasn't in foul trouble because that's the level she's playing at. This is my favorite part of Jess, as great as her stats were and as great as she was on the court, I thought she was just as great on the bench when she was in foul trouble. She sets the tone; she's my voice, most importantly like I tell her she's got my back and what a better bodyguard than to have somebody with the size and speed and agility like Jessika Carter."

Up Next
Mississippi State will be back home on Jan. 1 when the Bulldogs welcome in-state rival Ole Miss to Humphrey Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network and will tip-off at 5 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.

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