SEC Releases MSU Women’s Basketball Conference Schedule

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (MSU Athletics) – The two-time reigning SEC champions know their path to a third straight title, as the Southeastern Conference office announced the 2020 league schedule for women’s basketball Wednesday.

Mississippi State will have its hands full throughout the 16-game slate, as five of the eight road games come against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last year. Along with their permanent opponent in Ole Miss, the Bulldogs will face Auburn and Georgia twice this season.

“As always, it’s a 16-game rivalry schedule,” said head coach Vic Schaefer. “For two months, you have to be locked in and know that, if you’re not ready to play, you will get embarrassed. It’s a very challenging schedule. The first thing that jumps out to me is that two of our first three games are on the road at two places that we have historically had difficulty playing at with Georgia and Missouri. We have some big Monday games that we are a part of and will have some great television games as well. I talk about it every year, we have 16 rivalry games, and it’s a grind. January and February are the two hardest months of the year, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

State officially begins its march towards another championship on Jan. 2, when Florida travels to Humphrey Coliseum. That game leads into a two-game road stint against Georgia (Jan. 5) and Missouri (Jan. 9). After a bye, the Bulldogs return home for a game against LSU on Thursday, Jan. 16.

On Jan. 20, Mississippi State will head to Colonial Life Arena for a Monday matchup against South Carolina, who is considered one of the early favorites to contend for the SEC title. Just three days later, MSU will travel to Vanderbilt (Jan. 23) to compete in its fourth road game in three weeks.

The Bulldogs return to Starkville for a three-game homestand, beginning with their first contest of the season against in-state rival Ole Miss on Sunday, Jan. 26. After taking on Auburn (Jan. 30), State will host Georgia for a Monday night game on Feb. 3.

After a road game at Tennessee (Feb. 6), Mississippi State takes on Texas A&M at The Hump on Sunday, Feb. 9, in a game that could have serious title implications on the line with the Aggies returning all five starters from a year ago. MSU will have a bye following the contest before back-to-back road games against Kentucky (Feb. 16) and Auburn (Feb. 20).

The SEC slate begins winding down on Sunday, Feb. 23, when the Bulldogs host Alabama. State will honor Jordan Danberry for senior day against Arkansas on Thursday, Feb. 27. The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with a road trip to Ole Miss on March 1.

The 2020 SEC Tournament will take place on March 4-8 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

Tip times and television schedules for the SEC women’s basketball schedule will be announced at a later date.