Bulldogs To Open 53rd Season Against North Alabama

Tuesday, November 3

Starkville

6:30 p.m.

Mississippi State

North Alabama

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November 02, 2026 | Women's Basketball

MSU Notes UNA Notes

By: Will Simmons, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State women's basketball will begin the fifth season of the Sam Purcell era on Tuesday, as they welcome the North Alabama Lions to Starkville. Tipoff for the contest is set for 6:30 p.m. inside Humphrey Coliseum.

GAME INFORMATION
North Alabama Lions (0-0, 0-0 UAC) vs Mississippi State Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
November 3, 2026, 6:30 p.m. CT
Starkville, Miss. (Humphrey Coliseum)
Watch: SECN+
Listen: MSU Radio Network – Starkville 96.1

PROMOTIONS
Rally Towel Giveaway: The first 500 students will receive a maroon "Attack The Gap" rally towel.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the game can be purchased at hailstate.com/tickets.

TEAM NOTABLES

Mississippi State returns three Bulldogs this season – Madison Francis, Favour Nwaedozi and Melissa Guillet. Francis and Nwaedozi were the top two scorers on last season's team.
Mississippi State added six players from Division I institutions via the transfer portal - Aryss Macktoon, Reese Beaty, Macie Phifer and Cali Smallwood.
Two NJCAA All-American Honorees made the jump to the SEC - Tootie Lockett and Arianny Francisco de Oliveira.
The Bulldogs also added three freshmen to their roster - Andrea Flores, Grace Ndubueze and Lani Smallwood.
In 52 previous seasons, Mississippi State has gone 40-12 in season openers.
State has won their last 22 season openers.
The Bulldogs have opened their season against the Lions once before. On November 9, 1978, State traveled to North Alabama and took home the victory, 78-36.
In home openers, State is 50-2 all time. The last time the Bulldogs dropped their first game of the season inside of Humphrey Coliseum was December 3, 1985, meaning State has won their last 40 home opening games inside The Hump.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT

North Alabama finished 17-14 last season.
Anna Nimz takes over the helm after spending her last six seasons at Northwestern State, where she took a one-win team and turned it into a winning program last season.
The Lions return three players from last year's team. They lost 10, including all five starters.

SERIES HISTORY

Mississippi State has won all six previous matchups against Alabama State.
The last matchup between the two took place on November 11, 2022, where State defeated UNA, 77-40.
The Bulldogs are 3-0 against North Alabama in Humphrey Coliseum.

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