“She’s The Best Post Player In The Country”
January 15, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Jessika Carter keeps doing big things for the Bulldogs.
STARKVILLE – When it comes to standout center Jessika Carter, Mississippi State women's basketball head coach Sam Purcell feels strongly about just how talented she is.
"[She's the] best post player in the country," Purcell said. "I said that with my chest."
Carter has put together an impressive season thus far, and there are plenty more games left to go in which she can leave her mark. From her success on the court to her leadership in the locker room, she's done everything she can to help her Bulldogs.
"Every time we're in a tough situation she speaks, she repeats," Purcell said. "When adversity hits, her character comes out through the roof."
That's exactly what happened on Sunday evening in Humphrey Coliseum as MSU bested instate rival Ole Miss by a score of 69-57 in front of a packed crowd. The two squads were locked in an intense battle, and the home team was looking to put together an exciting victory to cap off a solid week of conference play. Carter made her voice heard amongst her teammates, encouraging them and speaking into existence what would eventually happen.
"She's like, 'Uh-uh, not tonight. We're winning this game,' and you can't put a price tag on that," Purcell said. "That's what a fifth-year [player] is supposed to do, and she's doing everything and then some."
The native of Waverly Hall, Georgia, was an unstoppable force underneath the basket throughout the contest. She scored a game-high 23 points, including six in a dominant fourth-quarter performance to help the Dawgs pull ahead for good. Carter also collected key boards with five rebounds and made big defensive stops when it mattered most.
There's not much that Carter can't do when she's in the game, and everybody seems to know it. Fellow post player Erynn Barnum — who added seven points and eight rebounds in the win over the Rebels — shared how she and her teammates feel when the All-SEC center is able to command the floor offensively.
"When we get the ball to Jess, we're very confident," Barnum said. "I think, to speak for all of us, she makes our job easier."
Barnum added that when Carter has a stellar day against tough competition, it impacts more than just the box score.
"When we see her wanting it like that, it feeds off on the team," Barnum said. "That's one of our captains, and she's like that every day in practice. To see it carry on to the game and to see her get what she deserves is everything."
Carter's abilities on the court speak for themselves, but it's her determination that truly makes her into the student-athlete that she is. It's evident every time she represents the Maroon and White, and it's something that her second-year coach admires about her.
"I love that kid for multiple reasons," Purcell said. "She's in the best shape of her life. She's a Dawg. She works. There's a demeanor about her."
Purcell continued:
"Most importantly, as the head coach of this program, I love that kid because that kid's got my back."
The job is nowhere near done for Carter and the Bulldogs. In fact, they're starting to heat up big time as the Southeastern Conference slate rolls on. If there's one thing that's for certain, it's that the beloved veteran will give it her all in every situation to make her teammates, coaches and State fans proud.
