The Alabama State women's basketball team will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturday evening at the Humphreys Coliseum in Starkville, MS.  The game is slated for a 7 p.m. CT tipoff.
 
Fans can follow the action on the internet via HailStateTV live video and audio streams at www.hailstate.com/hstvlive.  Fans can subscribe for a cost of $12.95, or get play-by-play action on live stats
http://www.hailstate.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml?ATCLID=209333607&SPID=10995&DB_OEM_ID=16800&LIST_SPORT_KEY=W_BASKETBALL (The link will be available at the start of the game).
 
Alabama State has only had one day to prepare for SEC team Mississippi State.  Coach Freda Freeman-Jackson and her Lady Hornets will enter Saturday's game with a 4-1 record defeating Samford 44-40 in thriller overtime play, led by the efforts of senior Nakiya Smith who led the ladies with 12 points.  Senior Taila Arrington chipped in 10 for the victory.
 
"We've only had one day to prepare," said Freeman-Jackson.    "I feel that if we do the things that we did against Samford (playing solid defense), we should position ourselves to possibly upset Mississippi State.  The main thing for us is that we don't get excited or be afraid we just have to do the things that we know how to do.  Hopefully by the end of the game we position ourselves to win the ball game."
 
Senior Quentori Alford leads the Lady Hornets with an 11.8 scoring average and boast a team-best of 10.4 rebounds per game.  The Atlanta native also leads the team and the conference (SWAC) in blocks with 21.
 
N. Smith is also averaging in double figures for Alabama State with a 10.6 figure.  Fifth year senior Jamesha Blake adds in 9.6 points per game for the Lady Hornets.
 
Mississippi State will enter the contest with an 8-1 record defeating Louisiana-Lafayette in Starkville 78-51.  The Bulldogs leading scorer is Martha Alwal which is averaging 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
 
"Having a six-four center that's averaging 16 points per game will be a ton to deal with," Freeman-Jackson stated.  "But we have a Defensive Player of the Year center on our team and think that "Q" will do a job for us.  We will just have to double up and do a job on her if we can."
 
This will be the third time that these two teams have met on the Bulldog court.  The last time the Lady Hornets were in Starkville was during the 1998-99 season falling 89-51, Jackson-Freeman's first season as the Alabama State women's head basketball coach.