PREVIEW: #9 WBK Hoops at Vanderbilt

Thursday, January 23

Nashville, Tenn.

8:00 PM

Mississippi State

Vanderbilt

PREVIEW: #9 WBK Hoops at Vanderbilt

January 22, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live (SECN)Listen Live Live Stats TuneIn MSU Notes Vanderbilt Notes VIDEO: Media Session (Jan. 21)

by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – No. 9 Mississippi State is back on the road Thursday night, as the Bulldogs take on Vanderbilt in Memorial Gym at 8 p.m. CT.

State (16-3, 4-1 SEC) has a short turnaround after suffering a heartbreaking 81-79 loss to top-ranked South Carolina on the road on Monday night. MSU will look to rebound from the loss with a win against the Commodores (12-6, 2-3 SEC) before returning home for a three-game stint. During the last three seasons, the Bulldogs have been dominant on the road, winning 27 of their 29 games in away venues.

Vanderbilt is in the middle of a tough stretch in its schedule, facing its third straight ranked opponent. After a loss to South Carolina last week, VU fell to Arkansas at home on Sunday, 100-66. The Commodores will be looking to get back on track with a win against the Bulldogs.

Fans can watch the game on SEC Network with Eric Frede on play-by-play and Andy Landers as the analyst. The game will also be streamed on MSU Radio Network with Jason Crowder and Charlie Winfield on the call and can be streamed on HailState.com/plus and the Tune In app.

For more information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU women's basketball on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateWBK."

Bulldog Bites
• With Mississippi State currently 4-1 in SEC play, the Bulldogs have their sights set on a third consecutive SEC title, a feat that no program has accomplished outright since 2001-04.
• Mississippi State is 27-2 in road games during the last three seasons, including 18-1 in SEC matchups.
A win would give State its seventh straight victory in the series against Vanderbilt and would be just the fifth win ever for the Bulldogs in Memorial Gym.
• Graduate guard Jordan Danberry leads the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and steals (2.7 spg) while ranking second in assists (2.9 apg). She ranks 18th among Division I players in total steals (51) and 28th in steals per game to pace a Mississippi State defense that is second in the SEC in turnovers forced per game (21.4).
• Freshman Rickea Jackson currently ranks second among SEC freshmen in scoring (16.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (.485) and is third in free throw percentage (.700) and seventh in rebounding (6.0 rpg) during SEC play. For the year, she is second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg). She has scored in double figures in 13 games on the year.
• Jackson marks the first true freshman to start the season for Schaefer since 2014-15 with Victoria Vivians, who was second team All-SEC during her first season after averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Jackson is the first MSU freshman to post multiple 20-point games in SEC play since Vivian had three such performances.
• With the departure of SEC Player of the Year Teaira McCowan, Mississippi State had a major void to fill in the post this season. Sophomore forward Jessika Carter has helped answer that need, averaging 12.4 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. As a sophomore, McCowan averaged 8.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Carter has been one of the nation's top rebounders this season, especially on the offensive end of the floor. She is averaging 4.5 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks eighth in the Division I. Her 181 rebounds is the 18th most in the country.
• The duo of Chloe Bibby and Andra Espinoza-Hunter, known as the Splash Sisters, have combined to hit 56 percent of State's 3-pointers this season. Bibby leads the team with 31 threes, while Espinoza-Hunter ranks second with 17.

State's Offense Among Best in the Country
• Although Vic Schaefer's teams are widely known for their defense, Mississippi State has established itself as one of the best offensive teams in Division I.
• This season, State ranks seventh in the nation in scoring margin (+23.5) and eighth in scoring offense at 82.5 ppg.
• With four players shooting over 50 percent from the field, the Bulldogs rank 10th in the country and top the SEC in field goal percentage with a .478 clip.
• Another key to MSU's offensive success has been its ability to take care of the ball and make the extra passes for better shots. State ranks seventh in the SEC in assists per game (13.7 apg) and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.04).
• When the Bulldogs aren't knocking down shots, State is crashing the glass to get a second opportunity at a basket. With 276 offensive rebounds on the season, Mississippi State has gotten the rebound on 42 percent of its missed baskets and turned that into 306 second-chance points.

Secretary of Defense
• Vic Schaefer's teams have always had a major emphasis on one area: defense. If you want to play for him, you have to play lockdown, tenacious and suffocating defense for 40 minutes every game. It's this expectation and mentality that has earned Schaefer the nickname "Secretary of Defense."
• So far this season, State's relentless defense has forced opponents into turning the ball over 406 times for an average of 21.4 turnovers per game. That number ranks 18th in the nation and second in the SEC. The Bulldogs have forced at least 20 turnovers in all but four games this year.
• The Bulldogs have been great at rejecting shots with an average of 5.2 blocks per game, which is 20th in the Division I. Jessika Carter has led the charge by posting 2.1 bpg this season to rank 36th in the country and fourth in the SEC.
• State's on-ball pressure has been suffocating all year, especially in the press. MSU ranks third in the SEC with 9.6 steals per game. Jordan Danberry is pacing the team in the category with 2.7 spg to rank third in league and 28th in the nation.
• While there is no ranking for the stat, Mississippi State certainly ranks amongst the country's best teams at drawing charges. So far, the Bulldogs have taken 65 charges, led by 30 from Myah Taylor.

Deep Dive into State's Specialty Stats
• When it comes to specialty stats, Mississippi State leads its opponents in all five categories this year.
• The Bulldogs have been able to score at will down low this season. MSU has posted 884 of its points in the paint, which accounts for 56 percent of the team's total scoring. State has scored at least 50 points in the paint seven times.
• With defense being a top priority, Mississippi State has been able to turn its 406 turnovers forced into 468 points. That accounts for nearly a third of the team's scoring this year.
• MSU is one of the best teams in the country when it comes to field goal percentage, but when it does miss, State has been able to get an offensive rebound on 42 percent of its missed shots, which the Bulldogs have capitalized on and turned into 306 second-chance points.
• While MSU has three starters that are averaging double-digit scoring, Mississippi State's bench has also provided a much-needed spark in several games this season. With 530 bench points this year, State is getting an average of 28 points per game from the reserves. During SEC play, MSU's bench has outscored opponents in all but one game.
• When you get a turnover, one of the things that we want to do is turn that into quick points in transition. So far, State has 298 fast break points this season.

Danberry Dominating on Both Ends of the Court
• Jordan Danberry has been one of the best players on both ends of the floor in the SEC and the country this season.
• Danberry has made the most of her final season so far. The do-it-all guard leads the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and steals (2.7 spg). She is second on the team in assists (2.9 apg).
• Offensively, the Conway, Ark., native is shooting a blazing .542 percent clip from the field on the year and has posted four 20-point performances. She has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive games, including a 21-point performance against Florida.
• On the defensive end of the floor, Danberry has recorded multiple steals in 13 games this season and has seven contests with four or more steals. Her 51 steals ranks 17th in the nation.
• In her last five games, Danberry has been on fire, averaging 17.6 ppg while shooting 57 percent from the field to go along with 3.8 rpg, 3.2 apg and 2.2 spg.

Jackson Having Stellar Freshman Season
• Mississippi State knew it was going to rely on newcomers early and often this season, and McDonald's All-American Rickea Jackson has been stellar in her first season with the Bulldogs.
• Jackson ranks second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.5 rpg). The freshman forward is shooting 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc on the year.
• The Detroit, Mich., native has finished with double-digit scoring in 10 of the last 12 games and 13 times overall this season. During the last five contests, she is averaging 16.4 ppg to go along with 5.8 rpg.
• During conference play, Jackson ranks second among SEC freshmen in scoring (16.4 ppg) and field goal percentage (.485) and is third in free throw percentage (.700) and seventh in rebounding (6.0 rpg).
• After averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game in wins over Florida and at Georgia, Jackson was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 7. She posted 20 points in MSU's conference opener against the Gators and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks at Georgia.
• She earned MVP honors in the Duel in the Desert tournament after notching the first double-double of her career with 17 points and 10 rebounds vs. USF and posting a team-high 17 points against Virginia.
• Jackson marked the first true freshman to start the season for Schaefer since 2014-15 with Victoria Vivians, who was second team All-SEC during her first season after averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.