Location: Starkville, Miss.
Game 2 vs. Mississippi State: Friday, Nov. 7 @ 12 p.m.
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ATLANTA – The Georgia State women's basketball team (1-0, SBC 0-0) heads to Starkville, Miss., to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (1-0, SEC 0-0). The tipoff is set for Nov. 7, at 12 p.m., at Humphrey Coliseum.
SERIES HISTORY
Georgia State and Mississippi State first met on December 15, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Bulldogs earned a 91–70 victory in the series opener. The teams met again nearly 25 years later on November 16, 2017, in Starkville, Mississippi, with Mississippi State securing a 106–50 win. In two all-time meetings, the Bulldogs hold a 2–0 advantage over the Panthers. Both contests were non-conference matchups, with Georgia State hosting once and traveling once. Mississippi State's 56-point win in 2017 stands as the largest margin in the series, while Georgia State continues to seek its first victory against the perennial SEC powerhouse.
BETWEEN THE LINES
The Mississippi State Bulldogs enter Friday's matchup with a 1-0 record, riding the momentum from an explosive season opener. They kicked off the year with an exhibition win over Union, lighting up the scoreboard with 115 points in a dominant 115-71 victory. The Bulldogs then opened the regular season at home in Starkville, topping Davidson 66-57. Mississippi State concluded their 2024-25 campaign with a 22-12 record, falling to USC in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. This marked the Bulldogs' third consecutive 20+ win season under Head Coach Sam Purcell and the program's 13th overall NCAA Tournament appearance.
CRYSTAL CLEAR
Junior leader Crystal Henderson was named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team following a stellar 2024-25 campaign. Henderson started all 33 games for the Panthers, leading the team in assists (128, 3.9 pg), steals (79, 2.4 pg), minutes played (1,163, 35.2 pg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.42). She finished second on the team in scoring with 379 points (11.5 ppg) and recorded 20 double-digit games, including four 20+ point performances. Henderson led the Sun Belt in minutes per game, ranked second in the conference in steals and steals per game, and finished fourth in assists and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Henderson was also named 2023-24 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year after leading all Sun Belt freshmen in scoring, steals and assists, and finishing top five in assists among all freshmen in the NCAA during the 2023-24 season. Henderson's honors marked the third Freshman of the Year honors in program history, and the first since the 2016-17 season.
SUN BELT DOMINANCE
The Panthers opened the 2025–26 campaign with a statement performance, immediately landing on the national charts following a dominant season opener. Georgia State leads the Sun Belt in scoring offense (108.0 ppg), rebounds per game (50.0) and steals per game (26.0). Their 108-point performance in the season opener ranks as the 13th-highest in the nation this year. The Panthers also pace the league and stand No. 17 in the nation in turnover margin (+22.0). At the line, GSU leads the Sun Belt and ranks No. 28 nationally in free throws made per game (22.0). With a +12.0 rebound margin, Georgia State owns the league's top mark, including 22.0 offensive boards per game, sitting 26th nationally.
FRESH FACES
Georgia State welcomes six new faces to the roster for 2025-26, including two freshmen and four transfers ready to make an impact. Freshmen Savannah Robinson-Holmes and Grace Lanier bring youthful energy and potential, while transfers Ana Luiza Ramos Pires (Garden City CC), Nari Powers (Salt Lake CC), Ari Dyson (Trinity Valley CC), and ACC Power Four standout Gabbie Grooms brings collegiate experience and depth to bolster the Panthers' lineup.
SO INTERNATIONAL
Georgia State's roster features international flare with Finland native Monna Julkunen and Ana Luiza Ramos Pires from São Paulo, Brazil. A returning sophomore, Julkunen brings experience in Blue and White after appearing in 24 games last season. Pires joins the Panthers as a transfer from Garden City Community College, where she started nearly every game over two seasons.
HOLLOMAN HONORS
Graduate student Cheyenne Holloman was named a 2026 Kay Yow Servant Leader Award recipient, recognizing her dedication to service and leadership beyond the court. Presented by the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, the award honors collegiate athletes who exemplify the values of legendary NC State coach Kay Yow, whose legacy continues through the fund's mission to advance cancer research and support women impacted by the disease.
HISTORIC SEASON OPENER
Georgia State opened the season in historic fashion Monday night, defeating Oglethorpe 108-59 at the GSU Convocation Center. The performance ranked third all-time in GSU history for both steals (26) and points (108) in a single game, marking one of the most dominant outings in program history.
SINCE '08 '
Crystal Henderson lit up the court in Georgia State's season opener against Oglethorpe, pouring in 24 points. That performance marks the first time since 2008 that a player has scored 24 or more points in a GSU season opener.
For the latest updates on the season, including ticket information and game details, please visit www.georgiastatesports.com and follow us on social media @gsu_wbasketball.
