Mississippi State Hosts Jackson State For In-State Battle

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball hosts in-state Jackson State inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (9-2) vs. Jackson State (5-3)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 14 | Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum - 9,100)
Watch: SEC Network+ (Talent: Charlie Winfield and Bart Gregory)
Listen: MSU Radio Network - Starkville 96.1 (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Fans not in attendance can follow action on SEC Network+ or through their affiliate radio station with play-by-play talent Jason Crowder. Live statistics throughout the contest will be available at MSU.Statbroadcast.com.

Thursday will be the 29th overall matchup between Mississippi State and Jackson State. Mississippi State leads 17-11 overall and has won six straight in the series. The last meeting in the series was a 74-66 win for Mississippi State inside Humphrey Coliseum on Dec. 19, 2021.

Jackson State is the second SWAC team that Mississippi State has faced this season and the sixth overall under Purcell. The Bulldogs are 5-0 against SWAC teams under Purcell.

Mississippi State has made it a point of emphasis to play programs inside the state. Not including Ole Miss, Mississippi State has played the other Division I teams 26 times since 2010 with a 25-1 record. Mississippi State defeated Alcorn State 77-42 to open its schedule this season and will also face Mississippi Valley State and Ole Miss in 2023-24.

Mississippi State enters Thursday 19-3 at home and 13-1 at home against non-conference regular season opponents under Purcell. Mississippi State has now won 15 of its last 16 non-conference home games dating back to December 19, 2021.

Jackson State is off to a 5-3 start in its fifth season under head coach Tomekia Reed. The Tigers rank sixth nationally with 18.5 offensive rebounds per game and 17th nationally with a +12.1 rebounding margin. The Tigers were selected as preseason favorites to win the SWAC, while senior guard Ti'lan Boler was voted the preseason player of the year.

The Bulldogs have been one of the most disciplined teams defensively in the entire nation through the initial portion of the schedule, standing second nationally with only 11.2 fouls per game. Mississippi State is 8-1 when it records 10 or fewer fouls under Purcell – which it has accomplished four times this season.

Mississippi State concludes the quick homestand after it defeated Kennesaw State on Dec. 11. Graduate student center Jessika Carter stole the show in her return following a three-game absence with a career-high 31 points on 14-19 from the field and 13 rebounds for her 31st career double-double. Her 31 career double-doubles are the second-most among active SEC players. Freshman guard Mjracle Sheppard had her best performance of her early career with seven steals, nine assists and eight points in 26 minutes.

Mississippi State recorded a season-high in forced turnovers and steals against Kennesaw State with 23 forced turnovers and 16 steals. The Bulldogs are 21-6 when forcing 15-plus turnovers under Purcell - which has been done in every home game this season and in seven out of the 11 contests.

The Bulldogs also tied a Purcell-era high with 27 assists - which came on 36 made field goals - versus the Owls. Graduate student guard Lauren Park-Lane and Sheppard combined for 18 of the 27 assists. Mississippi State has recorded four games of 20-plus assists this season, which have all come over the last six games.

Park-Lane currently ranks ninth nationally with 70 total assists, 19th with 6.4 assists per game and 22nd with a +2.92 assist/turnover ratio. The Bulldogs rank second in the SEC and 31st nationally with 17.7 assists per game and 25th nationally with an +1.37 assist/turnover ratio.

Mississippi State will hit the road for a pair of contests prior to Christmas break, starting with a border battle against Memphis on Sunday, Dec. 17 inside Elma Fieldhouse.

Mississippi State Hosts Jackson State For In-State Battle

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Players Mentioned

Jessika Carter

Lauren Park-Lane

Mjracle Sheppard

Mississippi State University Athletics