Mississippi State women to host Ole Miss Sunday

Credit Mississippi State Athletics

Ring in the new year with Mississippi State women’s basketball as the Bulldogs host Ole Miss in their annual in-state rivalry showdown on Jan. 1 at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network.

GAME INFORMATION

• Mississippi State (12-2, 1-0 SEC) vs. Ole Miss (12-2, 1-0 SEC)
• Date: Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 // Time: 5 p.m. CT
• Location: Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
• Watch: SEC Network (Talent: Roy Philpott & Brooke Weisbrod)
• Listen: MSU Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Jason Crowder)

Numbers To Know

• 1K • Jessika Carter became the 28th Bulldog to join the 1,000-point club at MSU. JerKaila Jordan scored her 1000th point vs. New Mexico. MSU has four players with over 1,000 career points (Anastasia Hayes has over 2,000 & Asianae Johnson has over 1,500).
• 20+ • Jessika Carter has scored 20+ points in back-to-back for just the second time in her career after scoring 29 against New Mexico and 21 against Vanderbilt. She last did it on Jan. 23, 2020, at Vanderbilt (22 points) and on Jan. 26, 2020, against Ole Miss (24 points).
• 80.7 • In the last three games, Mississippi State has been on a different level, averaging 80.7 points per game and allowing opponents to score just 49.7. From the field, MSU is shooting 52%, 49% from 3-point range and 74% from the free throw line.
• 6th • Asianae Johnson has been one of the best bench players in the country. She leads the team in field goal percentage (59%) and 3-point percentage (50%). She also ranks 4th on the team, scoring 10.0 points per game, 2nd in assists with 39, and 2nd in steals with 27.

Series History

• • Ole Miss leads the all-time series 64-38. 
• • Mississippi State has won 15 of the last 16 meetings, including the last game between the two teams on Feb. 13, 2022, 70-59. That game was played in Starkville.
• • Since 2009, Mississippi State has dominated the series with a record of 23-4
• • Mississippi State has won 15 straight at home against Ole Miss.
• • In SEC home openers against Ole Miss, The Bulldogs have won three straight: Jan. 11, 2009 (69-64) … Jan. 13, 2000 (82-58) … Jan. 7, 1998 (80-76).

Bulldog Takeaways

• • Mississippi State has won seven of its last eight SEC Home Openers, including last season’s 70-63 win against Vanderbilt.
• • Asianae Johnson is averaging 21.9 minutes per game, most of any reserve, and is also averaging 10.0 points per game, the fourth-most on the team. She is 1-of-4 Bulldogs averaging in double figures. She also leads the team in field goal percentage at 59% and 3-point percentage at 50%.
• • Denae Carter has also been a great piece off the bench this season, averaging 17.4 minutes per game and 6.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per contest. Her 6.4 boards rank second on the team.
•  • Jessika Carter became the 28th Bulldog to join the 1,000-point club against Vanderbilt on Dec. 29.
• • She leads the SEC in both total blocked shots (38) and blocks per game (2.7)
• • Tied her career-high with 29 points and set a career-best with four assists against New Mexico.
• • Scored 21 points against Vanderbilt. It was just the second time in her career with back-to-back 20+ point games. The last time she did was vs. Vanderbilt and Ole Miss in Jan. of 2020.
• • Mississippi State enters Sunday on a 7-game winning streak. It’s State’s longest winning streak since winning 8-in-a-row during the 2019-20 season from Dec. 16, 2019, to Jan. 16, 2020.
• • Since Dec. 11, Ahlana Smith has been on a tear. Smith is averaging 12.2 ppg, 4.8 rebounds, 18 assists, and four total steals. She’s also shooting 51% from the floor, 56% from 3-point land and 83% from the free-throw line.

Get-To-Know Ole Miss

• • Ole Miss enters Sunday with the same record as Mississippi State, 12-2 overall and 1-0 in the SEC.
• • They are coached by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, who is in her 5th season at Ole Miss and her 10th season overall.
• • Coach Yo has a 1-8 record against Mississippi State, and she is 0-4 in Starkville.
• • The Rebels are averaging 73.9 points per game and allowing teams to score just 52.4 points against them.
• • They shoot 44% from the floor and 29% from 3-point range.
• • They are led by reigning SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, Angle Baker, averaging 14.1 points per game and 5.1 rebounds to contest. Baker shoots 45% from the floor and 29% from deep and is a 77% free throw shooter.
• • Three Rebels are averaging double-figures this season. Joining Baker are Snudda Collins (12.4) and Madison Scott (10.9). Scott also leads the team in rebounding at 9.1 boards per game.
• • Making her return to Starkville will be Myah Taylor. Taylor, who played at State from 2017-22 and is a two-time Bulldog graduate, is averaging 6.2 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game. She leads Ole Miss in assists (54) and steals (23). She is ranked 4th in turnovers with 23 on the season.