PREVIEW: #12 Women’s Hoops vs. Troy

STARKVILLE – No. 12 Mississippi State returns home for its first matchup of a three-game homestand, as the Bulldogs host Troy at Humphrey Coliseum on Monday, Dec. 14, for a 7 p.m. CT tip.

The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with Bart Gregory (play-by-play) and Charlie Winfield (analyst) on the call. The matchup can also be streamed on the MSU Radio Network with Jason Crowder.

Fans who plan to attend the game are encouraged to review the Mississippi State Gameday Guidelines.

Mississippi State is looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season, as the Bulldogs fell to USF on the road 67-63 in overtime. The Bulldogs (2-1) couldn't overcome offensive woes, shooting 34 percent from the field and just 15 percent from beyond the arc. Rickea Jackson had a game-high 18 points to go along with nine rebounds, while Aliyah Matharu added 17 points and Jessika Carter chipped in 15 points.

This will be the second year in a row that the two programs have met on the hardwood, with State winning last season's contest 122-82. The Bulldogs are a perfect 13-0 when playing Troy at home, and they hold the all-time series advantage 13-2.

League coaches picked Troy to repeat as Sun Belt champions again after also claiming the title last year. The Trojans are led by first team All-Sun Belt preseason selection in Alexus Dye and senior guard Tiyah Johnson. Dye is averaging a double-double with 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game this season. Johnson is the team's leading scorer with 19.8 points per game to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game.

Bulldog Storylines

Mississippi State enters a new era during the 2020-21 campaign, as women's basketball hall of famer Nikki McCray-Penson takes the helm of the women's basketball program. The Collierville, Tenn., native boasts a decorated resume to this point in her career.
- 2017 National Championship
- 2x Olympic Gold Medalist
- 2x SEC Player of the Year
- 3x WNBA All-Star
- 1997 ABL MVP
- 1997 ABL Championship
Since the start of the 2016-17 campaign, Mississippi State owns 133 wins, which is the third-most victories in all of Division I. UConn leads the way with 136 wins, while Baylor boasts 134.
With MSU being tabbed No. 12 in the most recent poll, the Bulldogs have now spent 117 consecutive weeks inside the AP Top 25, continuing the longest streak in program history and the fifth-longest active streak in the country.
During the last few years, Mississippi State has developed into one of the top scoring offenses in the nation. The Bulldogs ranked inside the top 25 in scoring during each of the last four seasons.
State returns three starters from last year's squad, and they've each earned preseason recognition for their talent. Rickea Jackson and Jessika Carter are both candidates for the Naismith Trophy and Wade Trophy, while point guard Myah Taylor made the Nancy Lieberman Award preseason watch list.
Rickea Jackson led the Bulldogs in scoring last year with 15.1 ppg. The second team All-SEC selection posted eight games with 20-plus points and recorded four double-doubles.
After stepping into a starting role last year, Jessika Carter led the team in rebounding (8.7 rpg), blocks (1.8 bpg), field goal percentage (.585) and double-doubles (11) and was second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg).
Myah Taylor quietly put together a strong season in 2019-20. The Olive Branch, Miss., native ranked eighth in the country and led the SEC in assist/turnover ratio at 2.80. She paced the Bulldogs in assists (151) and ranked second in steals (63) while also averaging 5.6 points per game on 46 percent shooting.
Prior to the 2019 class, the Mississippi State women's basketball team had never signed a McDonald's All-American. Entering this season, the Bulldogs boast three All-Americans in National Player of the Year candidate Rickea Jackson, Michigan State transfer Sidney Cooks and five-star freshman Madison Hayes.

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."