Mississippi State Travels To Memphis On Sunday

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball is on the road to take on regional opponent Memphis inside Elma Roane Fieldhouse on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (10-2) at Memphis (4-6)
Date: Sunday, Dec. 17 | Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Memphis, Tenn. (Elma Roane Fieldhouse)
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: MSU Radio Network - Starkville 96.1 (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Fans not in attendance can follow action on ESPN+ or through their affiliate radio station with play-by-play talent Jason Crowder. Live statistics throughout the contest will be available through the statbroacast link attached above.

Sunday marks the 31st overall contest between Mississippi State and Memphis and the first time since 2008. Mississippi State defeated Memphis 81-49 inside Humphrey Coliseum on Dec. 14, 2008. It will be the contest between the two teams at Elma Roane Fieldhouse since Mississippi State headed back home with a 92-57 win on Dec. 2, 2007.

Memphis leads the all-time series 18-13; however, Mississippi State has won the last four in the series. Memphis will be the second American Athletic Conference opponent that Mississippi State has faced this season after it defeated Tulsa 102-58 to be crowned 2023 Van Chancellor Classic Champions on Nov. 26 at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas.

Mississippi State is 23-5 overall in non-conference contests under head coach Sam Purcell.

Memphis enters the contest 4-6 overall in its first season under head coach Alex Simmons. The Tigers are impressive in their pursuit on the offensive boards and rank 16th nationally with 16.4 offensive rebounds per game.

This will be the third game of the week for Mississippi State, who has won two straight and are 10-2 overall on the season. Mississippi State is 1-1 on the road and 4-1 outside of Humphrey Coliseum this season.

Four starters combined for 74 points in Mississippi State's 82-72 win over Jackson State inside Humphrey Coliseum on Thursday. Graduate student center Jessika Carter finished with 17 points and 18 rebounds, while graduate student forward Erynn Barnum added 17 points and six rebounds in both player's second game back from injury.

Sophomore guard Debreasha Powe turned in a game-high 21 points on 5-8 from behind the arc against Jackson State. Powe is connecting on a career-best 43.6 percent from three this season and has knocked down 23 threes over the last six games. Her 34 three pointers on the season rank ninth nationally and second in the SEC as of Dec. 15.

Carter is averaging 24.0 points and 15.5 rebounds since returning from a three-game absence. Barnum and Carter have combined to total 76 points and 42 rebounds – 21 offensive rebounds – in the two games since returning to the lineup. The pair provide a dominant rebounding presence and the Bulldogs are outrebounding their opponents by +16.2 rebounds in contests in which Carter and Barnum are on the floor – a top-10 mark nationally.

Graduate student guard Lauren Park-Lane has led the team in assists in 11 of the 12 games. Park-Lane is ranked fourth nationally and leads the SEC with 78 total assists, 15th with 6.5 assists per game and 23rd with a +2.79 assist/turnover ratio. She has dished out 59 assists over the last seven games - an average of 8.4 assists per game - compared to 19 over her first five.

Mississippi State does an exceptional job of defending without fouling and is second nationally with only 10.8 fouls per game as of Dec. 15. Mississippi State finished with six fouls compared to 23 for Jackson State last time out and have recorded 10 or fewer fouls in five games this season compared to five times all of last season.

Mississippi State remains on the road to take on Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo. on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Mississippi State Travels To Memphis On Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Erynn Barnum

Jessika Carter

Lauren Park-Lane

Debreasha Powe

Mississippi State University Athletics