Mississippi State Routs North Alabama 68-27
North Alabama's 27 points set a school-record low in a season-opening loss at Mississippi State.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Basketball
Mississippi State defeated North Alabama 68-27 in Starkville on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. North Alabama shot 9-of-54 from the field and committed 33 turnovers.
Why it matters
The 27-point output is the lowest in North Alabama women's basketball history and its worst season-opening defeat since November 2015. The loss comes ahead of a Thursday matchup at Ole Miss.
North Alabama committed 33 turnovers, which Mississippi State converted into 28 points, while the Lions' 9-of-54 shooting (17%) and 2-of-26 from three (8%) were the primary offensive problems. Mississippi State recorded 20 steals.
The players
Mississippi State
Mississippi State is a member of the Southeastern Conference based in Starkville, Mississippi, with an established women's basketball program.
North Alabama
North Alabama is a Division I university in Florence, Alabama, competing in the ASUN Conference.
Ole Miss
The University of Mississippi, known as Ole Miss, is a Southeastern Conference school in Oxford, Mississippi.
The details
Mississippi State controlled the game with defensive pressure, forcing North Alabama into 33 turnovers and recording 20 steals of its own. Venla Ulander and Brynn Lusby led North Alabama with six points each.
Timeline
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: North Alabama lost 68-27 at Mississippi State.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6 p.m.: North Alabama plays at Ole Miss.
Season Trajectory
This result sets a difficult early tone for North Alabama, which now reports a scoring low that exceeds its prior worst defeat by a wide margin. The Lions face Ole Miss on Thursday, a game that will test whether the offense can recover after a historically poor shooting night.
The 33 turnovers and 2-of-26 three-point shooting will be key areas for North Alabama to address before its Thursday game at Ole Miss. Fantasy and roster observers should note that Ulander and Lusby were the Lions' top scorers with six points each.
The takeaway
A single game's shooting and turnover numbers can distort a season's early picture, so the next few contests will show whether North Alabama's struggles were an outlier or a trend. Readers tracking the team should watch its ball-security and perimeter shooting against Ole Miss.
What happens next
North Alabama plays at Ole Miss on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage, browse Basketball news on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TimesDaily.
