<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=49Q4GI_0vtDmm3w00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=49Q4GI_0vtDmm3w00" width="620" height="320" ></figure>Last season, <a href="https://247sports.com/college/mississippi-state/">Mississippi State</a> women's basketball was a rollercoaster ride. From beating the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/lsu/">LSU Tigers</a> in front of a capacity crowd at Humphrey Coliseum to losing five of its last six conference games to close the regular season, the Bulldogs still finished with 23 wins, their second consecutive 20+ win season under head coach Sam Purcell.All-SEC second-team guard Jerkaila Jordan will be back in Starkville for her final season, and sharpshooting junior Debreasha Powe is also back. Those are the only two Bulldog starters returning this season, but much like the men, the coaching staff did a nice job of adding pieces around their two returners.Denim DeShields (<a href="https://247sports.com/college/alabama-birmingham/">UAB</a>)DeShields will join State after an impressive pair of seasons for the Blazers. The 5-5 guard averaged 12.9 points and 4.3 assists as a freshman and 13.4 points and 5.3 assists a season ago.With her ability to pass, DeShields, from Atlanta, Ga., could easily fill the role Lauren Park-Lane played for this team a season ago. She started in 61 of 63 games she appeared in for UAB and finished in the top three in assists each year in her respective conference.DeShields was named to the 2024 American Athletic All-Conference third team last season. DeShields will be a good backcourt mate for the talented scorer Jordan.Eniya Russell (<a href="https://247sports.com/college/kentucky/">Kentucky</a>)An issue for Mississippi State last season was its inconsistency on defense, particularly against guards. Russell will be able to help due to her 6-0 frame and also her experience playing in the SEC.Russell started her career at <a href="https://247sports.com/college/south-carolina/">South Carolina</a>, where she averaged 7.1 minutes a game over her two-year stay in Columbia. The Baltimore, Md. product then transferred to Kentucky and, after a minor role in her first year, had a career year a season ago.The fifth-year senior averaged 10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists last year, including eight games with over 15 points. Russell's versatility will be significant for State because she has the size to play the forward and the quickness to be a guard.Russell could replace Darrione Rogers, who was an offensive spark plug for State off the bench last season.Terren Ward (<a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia-southern/">Georgia Southern</a>)Ward comes into Starkville with an impressive resume. Over her four-year career at Georgia Southern, she was a member of two Sun Belt All-Conference first teams (2023 and 2024), was named Sun Belt All-Conference Second Team (2022), Sun Belt Conference Sixth Woman of the Year (2022), and Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (2021).She followed her former head coach, Anita <a href="https://247sports.com/college/howard/">Howard</a>, to State, where she now serves as an assistant under Purcell. Ward put up gaudy stats a season, averaging 22 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists a season ago.Ward, from Jesup, Ga., will have a massive role on this team. Her wealth of experience will help State build roster chemistry.Chandler Prater (<a href="https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma-state/">Oklahoma State</a>)Prater, a Kansas City, Mo. product, is another experienced guard on this State roster. She started her career with the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/kansas/">Kansas Jayhawks</a> and averaged 6.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game over her three-year career before heading to Stillwater.In her lone season with Oklahoma State, she averaged eight points, six rebounds, and two assists per game in only five appearances before suffering an injury. If the 5-10 guard can stay healthy, she will help the Bulldogs on the boards with a career average of 4.6 rebounds a game and on the defensive end with a career average of a steal a game.Kayla Thomas (Georgia Southern)Thomas, from Beltsville, Md., is one of many people vying to replace Jessika Carter's production. The senior also followed Howard from Georgia Southern.The 6-2 forward/center started her career at <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/">Penn State</a>, where she averaged 6.7 minutes a game and made no starts. However, Thomas found a more significant role in Statesboro.She made 11 starts and averaged 15 minutes a game. She finished the season averaging 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. The largest hole for this State team is at the center position, and Thomas will compete for minutes at that spot and the four.It will be a fresh look for Bulldog women's basketball this season, which may benefit them down the stretch. Getting Jordan back was a massive win for State because she is someone a team can build around, and Purcell did.Ward, DeShields, and Russell will all compete for starting positions, but one will need to lead the second unit, which is a good problem to have. Going into the season, the most significant question mark is who will replace the post-production that Carter leaves behind, and there are several candidates.We hope to learn more today as we talk to Purcell and several players.</div></body>

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Meet the Bulldog transfers: Women's basketball

Last season, Mississippi State women's basketball was a rollercoaster ride. From beating the LSU Tigers in front of a capacity crowd at Humphrey Coliseum to losing five of its last six conference games to close the regular season, the Bulldogs still finished with 23 wins, their second consecutive 20+ win season under head coach Sam Purcell.

Meet the Bulldog transfers: Women's basketball

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