Mississippi State Hosts Alabama State Wednesday For Education Day

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball hosts its second-annual Education Day inside Humphrey Coliseum when it tips off with Alabama State on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. CT.

GAME INFORMATION
Mississippi State (2-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. Alabama State (2-0, 0-0 SWAC)
Date: Wednesday, November 13 | Time: 11 a.m. CT
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum – 9,100)
Watch: SEC Network+
Listen: MSU Radio Network - Starkville 96.1

Fans who are not in attendance can follow action on SEC Network+ with talent Bart Gregory (play-by-play) and Brittany Lange (analyst) or through their affiliate radio station with Jason Crowder. Live statistics will be available here at HailState.com or through the MSU.StatBroadcast.com link attached above.

In attendance for the second-annual Education Day will be over 5,800 students from 35 in-state schools. The themed game has experienced a substantial increase from the 2,300 students that were on hand for the inaugural installment in 2023-24. Mississippi State defeated New Orleans, 87-26, for Education Day last season on Nov. 15, 2023.

Mississippi State leads the all-time series 6-0 with all six games played inside Humphrey Coliseum. Mississippi State last played and defeated Alabama State, 81-46, on Nov. 18, 2022 in the fourth game of Head Coach Sam Purcell's career.

Mississippi State is receiving seven votes in the week two edition of the Associated Press Top-25 poll that was released on Nov. 11 and three more in the USA Today Coaches Top-25 poll on Nov. 12.

Alabama State enters the weekend with a 2-0 record after it defeated Stillman College, 55-50, on Wednesday, Nov. 6. The Hornets are paced by graduate student forward Cordasia Harris, who has averaged a double-double of 20.5 points and 14.0 rebounds through the first two games. Alabama State is one of seven Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) programs that Mississippi State has faced under Purcell.

Redshirt junior guard Destiney McPhaul has recorded consecutive double-digit scoring performances to open her Mississippi State career after finishing with 15 points on 5-6 from the field and 3-3 from behind the arc last time against Alcorn State on Nov. 10.

Mississippi State is off and running with a 2-0 start through the first week of its season, piecing together consecutive dominant performances against Memphis, 100-56, on Nov. 7 followed by Alcorn State, 73-45.

Mississippi State improved to 19-1 in non-conference home games inside Humphrey Coliseum under Purcell. Mississippi State has won nine of its last 10 non-conference games, excluding the SEC Tournament, dating back to the 2023-24 season. Mississippi State is 30-6 overall in such games over the last two seasons.

Entering his third season at the helm, Purcell is the only head coach in program history and one of six in SEC women's basketball since 2000 to record consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins in each of their first two seasons. With a 2-0 start, Purcell is only three wins shy of 50 for his career. He has totaled the most overall wins (45 - 10 more than the next), most SEC wins (17 - 7 more than the next) and most NCAA Tournament wins (2 - no other head coach has recorded one) of any head coach through their first two seasons in program history.

Graduate student guard Jerkaila Jordan added 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals in 28 minutes against Alcorn State. Jordan, a 2025 Preseason Coaches' All-SEC Second Team selection, set career highs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes totals in 2023-24. She was only player in the SEC to average at least 15.0 points (16.2), 5.0 rebounds (5.9), 2.0 assists (2.4) and 2.0 steals (2.1) per game in 2023-24.

Mississippi State will take on seven opponents ranked in the Associated Press and/or USA TODAY Coaches' Preseason Polls with six more opponents currently receiving votes in either poll. Within its schedule, 14 games of Mississippi State's 30 games will be against opponents that are either ranked or receiving votes in either preseason poll and will tip off with 14 teams that made the 2024 NCAA Tournament with 15 games of its 30 games against such teams.

The first such game will come next time out when Mississippi State battles Chattanooga inside Humphrey Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. CT. on SECN+.

Visit HailState.com and social media accounts @HailStateWBK for the most up-to-date information on Mississippi State women's basketball.

Mississippi State Hosts Alabama State Wednesday For Education Day

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Players Mentioned

Jerkaila Jordan

Destiney McPhaul

Mississippi State University Athletics