Rickea Jackson, Mississippi State women's basketball's top scorer, out vs. Alabama
Mississippi State women's basketball is without top scorer Rickea Jackson against Alabama on Thursday, a team spokesperson said. Guard Ashley Jones is also unavailable, leaving the Bulldogs with eight players to face the Crimson Tide.
Interim head coach Doug Novak said two assistant coaches tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, complicating the preparation for Alabama (10-3, 1-1 SEC). At the time, though, Novak said no players had been impacted. The team spokesperson didn't specify why Jackson and Jones were out for Mississippi State (9-4, 0-1) on Thursday.
Jackson leads the Bulldogs with 20.7 points per game. The forward also averages 7.2 rebounds. Jones averages 5.4 points across seven games this season.
COACHES OUT: Two Mississippi State women's basketball assistant coaches test positive for COVID-19
LIVE UPDATES: Mississippi State women's basketball continues SEC play against Alabama
Mississippi State is already an undersized team, and losing the 6-foot-2 Jackson doesn't help. Guard Aislynn Hayes entered the starting lineup in Jackson's place.
With a four-guard lineup, there will be more emphasis on transition offense and forcing turnovers.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Rickea Jackson out for Mississippi State women's basketball vs Alabama
