No. 15 Lady Vols Host No. 11 Mississippi State in SEC Rematch

Tennessee looks to continue its strong start in conference play against a familiar foe.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:15am

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The No. 15 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team will host the No. 11 Mississippi State Bulldogs on Thursday night in Knoxville. This is a rematch of a game played less than a month ago, which Tennessee won by 10 points on the road. The Lady Vols have continued to improve since that first matchup, while Mississippi State is looking to bounce back after a few recent losses.

Why it matters

This game is an important early-season SEC matchup between two ranked teams. Tennessee is looking to maintain its undefeated conference record and continue building momentum, while Mississippi State hopes to avenge its earlier loss and get back on track in league play.

The details

Tennessee is led by guard Talaysia Cooper, who averages 14.4 points and 4.1 assists per game. The Lady Vols will also get a boost with the return of forward Janiah Barker from injury. Mississippi State is paced by forward Favour Nwaedozi, who averages a double-double with 13.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. The Bulldogs will look to dominate the glass after being outrebounded in the first meeting.

  • The teams last met on January 8, 2026 in Starkville, with Tennessee winning 90-80.
  • Thursday's game tips off at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT in Knoxville.

The players

Talaysia Cooper

A standout guard for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, averaging 14.4 points and 4.1 assists per game.

Janiah Barker

A key forward for Tennessee who is returning from injury to provide a boost to the Lady Vols' lineup.

Favour Nwaedozi

The leading scorer and rebounder for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, averaging a double-double of 13.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest.

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What they’re saying

“We've been practicing with a lid on the rim all week and they killed us on the glass at their place, and that's been a point of emphasis and it's gonna continue to be a point of emphasis.”

— Kim Caldwell, Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach

“It is kind of a quick turnaround to play the same team twice. Hopefully, we look better than we did at their place.”

— Kim Caldwell, Tennessee Lady Vols Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a big step forward in the SEC standings, while the loser will need to regroup quickly with more tough conference matchups on the horizon.

The takeaway

This SEC rematch between two ranked teams should provide an exciting and competitive game. Tennessee is looking to continue its strong start to conference play, while Mississippi State hopes to avenge its earlier loss and get back on track. The battle on the boards will be a key factor in determining the outcome.