PREVIEW: #10 WBK Hoops at Ole Miss

Sunday, March 1

Oxford, Miss.

1:40 PM

Mississippi State

Ole Miss

PREVIEW: #10 WBK Hoops at Ole Miss

February 29, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Watch Live (SECN+)Listen Live Live Stats TuneIn VIDEO: Media Session (2/28)MSU Notes Ole Miss Notes

by Josh Lively, Assistant Director/Communications

OXFORD, Miss – In the regular-season finale, 10th-ranked Mississippi State will look to extend its 13-game winning streak over in-state rival Ole Miss on Sunday at The Pavilion in a 1:40 p.m. tip.

"As far as our games with Mississippi, we've had some really good ones over the years," said head coach Vic Schaefer. "I think both universities in this great state are trying to do a great job and represent our universities and this state nationally. I know this game means a lot to a lot of people."

State (24-5, 12-3 SEC) sealed its second-place finish in the SEC on Thursday night with a strong offensive showing against Arkansas. The Bulldogs cruised to the 92-83 victory behind five double-digit scoring efforts. Jessika Carter continued her impressive play, dropping her third double-double in a row with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Danberry added 19 points and five assists in the game.

Despite its record, Ole Miss (7-21, 0-15 SEC) is playing much better basketball now compared to the first matchup between both teams. The Rebels recently played Alabama to a one-point game and nearly bested Florida on the road. Sophomore guard Mimi Reid is averaging 15.4 points and is shooting 43.6 percent in her last five games. She had a career-high 21 points at Tennessee on Thursday.

As a part of the final day of the regular season, the SEC Network will provide whiparound coverage from game to game during set time slots to maximize coverage of the league. However, fans can watch just the State's game on SEC Network+. 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 ranks fifth among all players with 17.0 ppg and eighth in field goal percentage (.482); she's also the team's second-leading rebounder (5.5 rpg). She's accounted for 23 percent of MSU's scoring during conference games.
• For the year, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week leads the team in scoring (14.7 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 (10th) and field goal percentage (10th/.477). 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.
• Graduate guard Jordan Danberry leads the team steals (2.5 spg) while ranking second in assists (3.1 apg) and third in scoring (12.3 ppg). The Naismith DPOY semifinalist ranks 21st among Division I players in total steals (72) and 33rd in steals per game to pace a Mississippi State defense that leads the SEC in turnovers forced per game (21.1).
• 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 14.0 points, 9.1 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 10th in Division I in field goal percentage (.600) and is 18th in offensive rebounds per game (4.1).
• Redshirt sophomore guard Myah Taylor is one of the best help-side defenders in the country. With 43 charges drawn and 60 steals, she's forced 103 turnovers this year, which accounts for 17 percent of MSU's turnovers forced. On the other end of the floor, her 2.53 assist/turnover ratio is 15th in the country and third in the SEC.
• Mississippi State clinched a second-place finish in the SEC with Thursday's win over Arkansas, marking the sixth-consecutive season that the Bulldogs have finished inside the top three of the conference.
State is looking for its 13th straigth win against in-state rival Ole Miss Sunday.

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 (14.7 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 15 conference games and 21 times overall.
• During league play, she ranks second among SEC freshmen in scoring (17.0 ppg) while ranking second in field goal percentage (.482) and fifth in rebounding (5.5 rpg).
• For the season, she is the only freshman in the conference who ranks inside the top 10 in both scoring (10th) and field goal percentage (10th).
• 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.

Carter Recording A Breakout Season
• Jessika Carter has been a major bright spot on Mississippi State's roster and is having a breakout season.
• The sophomore forward ranks inside the top 10 in the league in field goal percentage (.600/3rd), rebounding (9.1 rpg/T3rd) and blocks (1.9/6th) and is 12th in scoring at 14.0 ppg.
• The Waverly Hall, Ga., native ranks 10th in Division I in field goal percentage and 18th in offensive rebounds per game (4.1).
• During league play, Carter leads the SEC in field goal percentage, shooting a .647 clip. She's shot 70 percent or better from the floor in seven games during conference play.
• Carter has led State in rebounding 17 times and has scored double-figures in 22 contests, including five 20-point performances. She has also posted 11 double-doubles and has four games with four blocks.
• Carter was named SEC Player of the Week after dominating in State's wins over Murray State and Troy, averaging 22.0 points, 16.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.
• She grabbed a career-high 21 boards at Marquette to go along with 14 points.
• Carter earned a spot on the Duel in the Desert all-tournament team after posting 13 points and 15 boards against Virginia in the championship game.
• She had a strong couple of games back to back against Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, posting a pair of 20-point games.