Dawgs To Take On #7 Kentucky

Sunday, January 18

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

#7 Kentucky

January 17, 2026 | Women's Basketball

MSU Notes UK Notes

By: Will Simmons, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State Bulldogs will conclude a two-game home stand with a matchup against the seventh-ranked Kentucky Wildcats. Tipoff for Sunday's contest is set for 2 p.m. on SEC Network+.

GAME INFORMATION
#7 Kentucky Wildcats (17-2, 4-1 SEC) vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-5, 1-4 SEC)
Date: Sunday, January 18, 2:00 p.m. CT
Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Watch: SECN+
Listen: MSU Radio Network – Starkville 96.1

NOTES:

Mississippi State fell just short of a comeback against the fifth-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores, dropping their last contest 84-89.
Madison Francis' led the Bulldog offense for the third straight game as she scored 15 points.
Favour Nwaedozi (14), Kharyssa Richardson (13), Saniyah King (13) and Chandler Prater (10) all finished in double figures. King's 13 was a season high.
Trayanna Crisp led the team and tied her career high of seven assists in an eight-point performance, while adding a team-leading three steals.
Thursday's contest marked the first time in 15 games that Mississippi State lost while scoring more points in the paint than their opponent.
Four Bulldogs average 10+ points per game: Francis (13.2), Nwaedozi (13.1), Destiney McPhaul (11.7) and Chandler Prater (10.1). Jaylah Lampley averages 9.6 points per game.
In conference play, Richardson is averaging 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, which is above her season averages of 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.
Prater's points per game (10.1), rebounds per game (6.3), field goal percentage (45.3) and three-point field goal percentage (40.0) are all currently at single-season bests

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

Kentucky moved to 17-2 after winning their last contest against Florida, 94-89
Clara Strack (16.4) and Tonie Morgan (15.0) lead the Wildcat offense.
Two of the conference's best shot blockers will be on display in Sunday's contest, as Strack is tied with Madison Francis as the conference's block leader (55, 2.89 per game).
Kentucky is second nationally with 7.4 blocks per game.

SERIES HISTORY:

Kentucky leads the all-time series 33-24.
In Starkville, Kentucky leads 12-11.
Under Sam Purcell, State is 2-2 against Kentucky.

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