South Carolina women’s basketball has its second straight SEC road game as it shifts gears from the SEC opener against Missouri to Mississippi State on Sunday (2 p.m., SEC Network).
The Bulldogs (13-2) are coming off a tough loss to No. 16 Kentucky on Thursday, falling 91-69 in their SEC opener. They are unranked but received 25 votes in this week’s USA TODAY Coaches Poll. The No. 2 Gamecocks (13-1) are coming off a 83-52 win over Mizzou in their SEC opener.
South Carolina is 27-19 all time against MSU, including a national championship win in 2017 back when Vic Schaefer was coach of the Bulldogs. The Gamecocks have a record of 8-11 against the Bulldogs when playing in Starkville.
Here is what to know about Mississippi State ahead of the matchup:
Jerkaila Jordan is a star for Mississippi State
Jerkaila Jordan is averaging a team-high 14.6 points for the Bulldogs. She’s had six games with 20-plus points and is shooting 42.3% from the field. She had 25 points against South Carolina last season. This season, she’s shooting 22.2% from behind the arc.
At 5-foot-10, she’s averaging 6.8 rebounds and has 21 steals and 15 blocks.
Madina Okot, at 6-foot-6, a challenge for South Carolina
Not only is Mississippi State’s Madina Okot averaging 13.1 points per game, but at 6-foot-6, she’s also one of the best rebounders in the SEC at 9.1 per game. Sakima Walker has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, and the second-tallest player, Adhel Tac at 6-foot-5, has only played 29 minutes this season.
South Carolina’s three best forwards – Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin and Ashlyn Watkins – will all be undersized in the matchup.
Okot and Jordan will force the defense to defend both the perimeter and the paint, which is something South Carolina had trouble with against UCLA but did well with against TCU.
Mississippi State guard Eniya Russell began career at South Carolina
Eniya Russell began her career under South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and transferred to Kentucky after two seasons in Columbia. For the Gamecocks, she averaged 7.1 minutes and 2.5 points.
After spending two years in Lexington, she’s at her third SEC school and for the Bulldogs this season, she’s averaging 13.4 points per game, the second-best average on the team.
South Carolina score prediction vs Mississippi State
South Carolina 90, Mississippi State 74: Although South Carolina has a losing record to Mississippi State on the road, the Gamecocks get the win in this year’s matchup.
THURSDAY: South Carolina women’s basketball vs Missouri: Final score, highlights from SEC opener
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women’s basketball vs Mississippi State score prediction
