STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — A pivotal Southeastern Conference women’s basketball matchup features two Bulldogs programs heading in opposite directions when Georgia visits Mississippi State on Thursday night at Humphrey Coliseum. Georgia (19-5, 7-4 SEC) arrives with momentum after an 85-66 road rout of Missouri last Sunday. The Bulldogs have won three of their last four, with their only loss in that span a narrow overtime defeat to Tennessee. Mississippi State (16-8, 4-7), meanwhile, seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a lopsided 88-45 loss at top-ranked South Carolina. The contest hinges on the frontcourt battle between Georgia’s Mia Woolfolk and Mississippi State’s Madison Francis. Woolfolk is coming off a strong 16-point, 8-rebound performance against Missouri and has averaged 13.6 points over her last five games. Francis, a consistent force for the Lady Bulldogs, averaged 14.4 points over her last five outings and poses a significant defensive threat, having blocked six shots in a game earlier this month. Georgia’s offense runs efficiently through guard Trinity Turner, who dished out eight assists against Missouri, and features scoring balance from Rylie Theuerkauf, who dropped 22 points in the same game. Mississippi State will need more production beyond Francis, particularly from Kharyssa Richardson, to keep pace. The visiting Bulldogs boast a superior conference record and have shown resilience on the road. Mississippi State, struggling in SEC play, desperately needs a signature win to bolster its postseason resume. History adds another layer, as this is the only scheduled meeting this season between the conference rivals. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST. Georgia hosts Vanderbilt on Sunday, while Mississippi State travels to Arkansas on Monday.