Ole Miss and Mississippi State picked to finish 8th and 9th in SEC women's hoops poll

Oct. 20—Ole Miss and Mississippi State were picked to finish eighth and ninth, respectively, in the preseason SEC women's basketball poll.

The voting media members predicted South Carolina as conference champion.

Ole Miss senior forward Shakira Austin was selected as a member of the preseason All-SEC team.

Under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss (15-12) made a run through the WNIT last season, losing to Rice in the championship game. Austin, a Maryland transfer, averaged 18.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per game in her first season at Ole Miss. Second and third-leading scorers redshirt junior Donnetta Johnson and sophomore Madison Scott are also back for the Rebels, who are looking to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2007.

Mississippi State is currently undergoing a transition, as head coach Nikki McCray-Penson recently stepped down after leading the program for one season. The Bulldogs made the NCAA Tournament every year from 2014-19 but went 10-9 last season.

Mississippi State returns three of its four top scorers from last season, led by junior Rickea Jackson (14.9 points per game) and senior Jessika Carter (14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds per game).

Ole Miss and Mississippi State played just once last season, with the Bulldogs winning the lone matchup in Starkville. The game in Oxford was canceled due to weather conditions.