PREVIEW: #10 WBK Hoops vs. Arkansas

Thursday, February 27

Starkville

8:00 PM

Mississippi State

Arkansas

Tickets

PREVIEW: #10 WBK Hoops vs. Arkansas

February 26, 2020 | Women's Basketball

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by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – For the final time during the 2019-20 regular season, No. 10 Mississippi State will take the floor at Humphrey Coliseum Thursday night for a rematch of last year's SEC Tournament Championship, as the Bulldogs host Arkansas for an 8 p.m. tip.

State (23-5, 11-3 SEC) claimed the program's first SEC Tournament Championship last season, defeating the Razorbacks 101-70. Now, both teams are vying for one of the top four seeds in this year's tournament. Entering the game, the Bulldogs sit in second place and a win would seal the squad a double bye. Arkansas is currently tied for fourth.

The Razorbacks (21-6, 9-5 SEC) enter the contest coming off a close 83-80 loss at Florida. Arkansas boasts the SEC's top scoring offense at 84.8 points per game, which ranks second in the NCAA. The Razorbacks lead the conference in threes made with 263 and 3-point field goal percentage (.387).

Mississippi State will honor guard Jordan Danberry for senior night. Mississippi State will have a presentation for the Conway, Arkansas, native immediately following the game. During her three years with the program, Danberry has helped MSU put together a 93-10 record as Mississippi State claimed a Final Four run and two SEC Championships.

The first 500 fans will receive a voucher for a custom Mississippi State women's basketball cup, which can be picked up after the game is over. State's clear bag policy and walk-through metal detectors will be in place for all home games this season. For all gameday information, visit www.HailState.com/Gameday.

Fans unable to attend the game can watch on SEC Network with Tiffany Greene, Carolyn Peck and Andraya Carter on the call. 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 TuneIn 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
• Rickea Jackson continues to make a strong case for being the SEC and National Freshman of the Year. During SEC play, she leads all freshmen in scoring (17.7 ppg) while ranking second in field goal percentage (.486) and fifth in rebounding (5.6 rpg).
• For the year, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week leads the team in scoring (15.0 ppg) and is third in rebounding (4.8 rpg). She's the only freshman in the SEC who ranks inside the top 10 both in scoring (7th) and field goal percentage (7th/.479). She has scored in double figures in 21 games, including 16 games with at least 15 points, and has shot 50 percent or better from the field 13 times.
• Her six games with at least 20 points during SEC play are the most by any freshman in the league, and she's the only freshman to score 30 points in a game this season. Her 34 points against Auburn were tied for the second-most ever by an MSU freshman.
• Jackson marked the first true freshman to start the season since 2014-15 with Vivians, who was second team All-SEC during her first season after averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
• Graduate guard Jordan Danberry leads the team steals (2.5 spg) while ranking second in assists (3.0 apg) and third in scoring (12.1 ppg). She ranks 22nd among Division I players in total steals (71) and 32nd in steals per game to pace a Mississippi State defense that leads the SEC in turnovers forced per game (21.4). She was named a semifinalist for the Naismith DPOY award this week.
• 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 13.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. As a sophomore, McCowan averaged 8.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
• Carter ranks 11th in Division I in field goal percentage (.593) and is 19th in offensive rebounds per game (4.1).
• Redshirt sophomore guard Myah Taylor is one of the best help-side defenders in the country. With 42 charges drawn and 57 steals, she's forced 99 turnovers this year, which accounts for 17 percent of MSU's turnovers forced. On the other end of the floor, her 2.54 assist/turnover ratio is 14th in the country and third in the SEC.

Jackson Recording Freshman of the Year Campaign
• 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 leads the team in scoring (15.0 ppg) and is third rebounding (4.8 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 12 of State's 14 conference games and 21 times overall.
• During league play, she leads all SEC freshmen in scoring (17.7 ppg) while ranking second in field goal percentage (.486) and fifth in rebounding (5.6 rpg).
• For the season, she is the only freshman in the conference who ranks inside the top 10 in both scoring (7th) and field goal percentage (7th).
• Her six games with at least 20 points during SEC play are the most by any freshman in the league. Jackson surpassed Victoria Vivians (3) for the most 20-point efforts in conference play by a freshman Bulldog under Schaefer.
• Jackson has been named the SEC Freshman of the Week three times this season, most recently receiving the honor after going off in State's second matchup against Auburn, dropping a career-high 34 points on 14-of-22 shooting. It was tied for the second-most ever by an MSU freshman and marked the most since Victoria Vivians had 39 vs. Kentucky on Feb. 12, 2015.
• 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 since 2014-15 with Vivians, who was second team All-SEC during her first season after averaging 14.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Danberry Tabbed a Semifinalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year
• After establishing herself as one of the nation's top defenders, Jordan Danberry was named a semifinalist for the 2020 Naismith Women's Defensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Tuesday morning.
• Danberry ranks inside the top 35 in the nation in both total steals and steals per game on the year despite defending the opposing team's best guard every game.
• Offensively, she's one of the team's top scorers and ranks second in assists.
• Danberry was one of 10 players from across the country to be selected as a semifinalist.
• She also earned a spot on the Naismith Trophy Women's Player of the Year Midseason Team.

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 ninth in the nation in scoring margin (+19.5) and 11th in scoring offense at 79.3 ppg.
• With four players shooting over 50 percent from the field, the Bulldogs rank ninth in the country and tops the SEC in field goal percentage with a .471 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 fifth in the SEC in both assists per game (14.0 apg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.05).
• When the Bulldogs aren't knocking down shots, State is crashing the glass to get a second opportunity at a basket. With 379 offensive rebounds on the season, Mississippi State has gotten the rebound on 39 percent of its missed baskets and turned that into 407 second-chance points.

Secretary of Defense
• So far this season, State's relentless defense has forced opponents into turning the ball over 597 times for an average of 21.4 turnovers per game. That number ranks 12th in the nation and tops the SEC. The Bulldogs have forced at least 20 turnovers in 21 games this season.
• State's on-ball pressure has been suffocating all year, especially in the press. MSU ranks second in the SEC with 9.7 steals per game. Jordan Danberry is pacing the team in the category with 2.5 spg to rank second in league and 32nd in the nation.
• The Bulldogs have been solid at rejecting shots with an average of 4.8 blocks per game, which is 29th in Division I. Jessika Carter has led the charge by posting 1.9 bpg this season to rank 46th in the country and fifth in the SEC.
• 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 90 charges, led by 42 from Myah Taylor.