Women’s Hoops 2020-21 Schedule Announced
November 13, 2020 | Women's Basketball
Update: The original release listed a game against Alabama State on Dec. 9. That game has been removed due to ASU announcing a conference-only schedule.
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State women's basketball program and first-year head coach Nikki McCray-Penson announced the 2020-21 schedule on Friday, highlighted by a 16-game SEC slate.
All game times and TV network assignments in addition to Humphrey Coliseum seating capacity and ticket information will be released at a later date.
"I'm really excited about the schedule that we put together," said McCray-Penson. "Obviously, a majority of the schedule was done before we got here. I like the fact that we are starting off in the Hall of Fame Challenge and then we have the SEC/AAC Alliance. From there, we have our home slate before SEC play. Every game in the SEC is going to be tough. We start on the road with a tough opponent in Georgia, but we will be ready to roll. I am looking forward to competing, and I am ready to start our season."
The Bulldogs will open the campaign with the 2020 Hall of Fame Women's Challenge at Mohegan Sun Arena on Nov. 28-29. State will begin the tournament with a matchup against Maine, while UConn and Quinnipiac make up the other side of the bracket.
Mississippi State returns to Humphrey Coliseum for its home opener against New Orleans on Wednesday, Dec. 2. State is then back on the road Dec. 5 for a matchup against South Florida at Yuengling Center as part of the 2020 SEC/AAC Alliance.
The Bulldogs will travel to Hattiesburg to take on in-state foe Southern Miss at Reed Green Coliseum. The two programs have met every year since 2005.
Mississippi State will conclude its non-conference slate with a three-game homestand, beginning with a matchup against Troy, the reigning Sun Belt champions, on Dec. 14, followed by a contest with Southern on Dec. 18 and then ending with Central Arkansas on Dec. 20.
State opens conference play with a New Year's Eve matchup at Georgia. The Bulldogs return home for their first of two contests against Vanderbilt on Jan. 3 before an away game with Florida on Jan. 7.
Mississippi State will close out the month of January with four of its five games at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs will open the slate looking to extend their 13-game winning streak against in-state rival Ole Miss on Jan. 10. After that, State will host Alabama on Jan. 14.
On Jan. 17, Mississippi State will take on its first of three-straight preseason top-15 teams in Texas A&M at Reed Arena. MSU then hosts Kentucky and National Player of the Year candidate Rhyne Howard on Jan. 24. The Aggies will enter the season ranked 13th in the AP Poll, while the Wildcats checked in at No. 11 in the nation.
One of the prime matchups of the SEC schedule takes place on Jan. 28, as the Bulldogs face preseason No. 1 South Carolina at Humphrey Coliseum.
The month of February will be travel heavy for MSU, as five of the first seven games come on the road. Up first, State will take on Vanderbilt for the second time on Feb. 1. McCray-Penson will face her alma mater on Feb. 4, when the Tennessee Lady Vols make the trip to Starkville.
Mississippi State travels to Bud Walton Arena to face Arkansas, who enters the year ranked 14th in the country, on Feb. 11. State then heads to Oxford for its second meeting with Ole Miss on Feb. 14.
On Feb. 18, the Bulldogs host Auburn before traveling east on Highway 82 for a matchup against Alabama on Feb. 21. After a contest at LSU on Feb. 25, Mississippi State concludes its 2020-21 campaign with a game against Missouri in Humphrey Coliseum on Feb. 28.
A new era in Starkville begins this season, as McCray-Penson takes the helm of a program that returns three starters, including preseason All-Americans Jessika Carter and Rickea Jackson along with Nancy Lieberman Award nominee Myah Taylor.
The squad also brings back several key contributors in Aliyah Matharu, JaMya Mingo-Young, Yemiyah Morris and Xaria Wiggins. Former McDonald's All-American Sidney Cooks is eligible this season after sitting out last year. The Bulldogs also added a trio of newcomers in McDonald's All-American Madison Hayes, skilled post Charlotte Kohl and graduate transfer Caterrion Thompson.
A member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, McCray-Penson has won championships at all levels of her basketball career. As a coach, she has been a part of one national championship, four conference championships and four conference tournament championships. As a player, she was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 1998 World Cup gold medalist while competing for Team USA. She led her Columbus Quest team to the 1997 ABL Championship. During college, she helped Tennessee win three SEC regular-season championships and two SEC Tournament titles.
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."
STARKVILLE – The Mississippi State women's basketball program and first-year head coach Nikki McCray-Penson announced the 2020-21 schedule on Friday, highlighted by a 16-game SEC slate.
All game times and TV network assignments in addition to Humphrey Coliseum seating capacity and ticket information will be released at a later date.
"I'm really excited about the schedule that we put together," said McCray-Penson. "Obviously, a majority of the schedule was done before we got here. I like the fact that we are starting off in the Hall of Fame Challenge and then we have the SEC/AAC Alliance. From there, we have our home slate before SEC play. Every game in the SEC is going to be tough. We start on the road with a tough opponent in Georgia, but we will be ready to roll. I am looking forward to competing, and I am ready to start our season."
The Bulldogs will open the campaign with the 2020 Hall of Fame Women's Challenge at Mohegan Sun Arena on Nov. 28-29. State will begin the tournament with a matchup against Maine, while UConn and Quinnipiac make up the other side of the bracket.
Mississippi State returns to Humphrey Coliseum for its home opener against New Orleans on Wednesday, Dec. 2. State is then back on the road Dec. 5 for a matchup against South Florida at Yuengling Center as part of the 2020 SEC/AAC Alliance.
The Bulldogs will travel to Hattiesburg to take on in-state foe Southern Miss at Reed Green Coliseum. The two programs have met every year since 2005.
Mississippi State will conclude its non-conference slate with a three-game homestand, beginning with a matchup against Troy, the reigning Sun Belt champions, on Dec. 14, followed by a contest with Southern on Dec. 18 and then ending with Central Arkansas on Dec. 20.
State opens conference play with a New Year's Eve matchup at Georgia. The Bulldogs return home for their first of two contests against Vanderbilt on Jan. 3 before an away game with Florida on Jan. 7.
Mississippi State will close out the month of January with four of its five games at Humphrey Coliseum. The Bulldogs will open the slate looking to extend their 13-game winning streak against in-state rival Ole Miss on Jan. 10. After that, State will host Alabama on Jan. 14.
On Jan. 17, Mississippi State will take on its first of three-straight preseason top-15 teams in Texas A&M at Reed Arena. MSU then hosts Kentucky and National Player of the Year candidate Rhyne Howard on Jan. 24. The Aggies will enter the season ranked 13th in the AP Poll, while the Wildcats checked in at No. 11 in the nation.
One of the prime matchups of the SEC schedule takes place on Jan. 28, as the Bulldogs face preseason No. 1 South Carolina at Humphrey Coliseum.
The month of February will be travel heavy for MSU, as five of the first seven games come on the road. Up first, State will take on Vanderbilt for the second time on Feb. 1. McCray-Penson will face her alma mater on Feb. 4, when the Tennessee Lady Vols make the trip to Starkville.
Mississippi State travels to Bud Walton Arena to face Arkansas, who enters the year ranked 14th in the country, on Feb. 11. State then heads to Oxford for its second meeting with Ole Miss on Feb. 14.
On Feb. 18, the Bulldogs host Auburn before traveling east on Highway 82 for a matchup against Alabama on Feb. 21. After a contest at LSU on Feb. 25, Mississippi State concludes its 2020-21 campaign with a game against Missouri in Humphrey Coliseum on Feb. 28.
A new era in Starkville begins this season, as McCray-Penson takes the helm of a program that returns three starters, including preseason All-Americans Jessika Carter and Rickea Jackson along with Nancy Lieberman Award nominee Myah Taylor.
The squad also brings back several key contributors in Aliyah Matharu, JaMya Mingo-Young, Yemiyah Morris and Xaria Wiggins. Former McDonald's All-American Sidney Cooks is eligible this season after sitting out last year. The Bulldogs also added a trio of newcomers in McDonald's All-American Madison Hayes, skilled post Charlotte Kohl and graduate transfer Caterrion Thompson.
A member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, McCray-Penson has won championships at all levels of her basketball career. As a coach, she has been a part of one national championship, four conference championships and four conference tournament championships. As a player, she was a two-time Olympic gold medalist and 1998 World Cup gold medalist while competing for Team USA. She led her Columbus Quest team to the 1997 ABL Championship. During college, she helped Tennessee win three SEC regular-season championships and two SEC Tournament titles.
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."