STARKVILLE, Miss. (Interstat) — North Alabama will visit Mississippi State in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Tuesday at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Miss. Both teams enter with 0-0 records.

North Alabama, known as the Lions, most recently fell 67-56 at Central Arkansas. Mississippi State, the Lady Bulldogs, most recently dropped an 86-68 decision at Florida. The Lions and Lady Bulldogs will meet with both programs seeking a strong start and an early nonconference result.

Mississippi State will host the game at Humphrey Coliseum, where the Lady Bulldogs will try to establish an early rhythm and protect their home floor. North Alabama will aim to manage the road setting and remain organized defensively against a Mississippi State team that will look to control tempo. The matchup gives the Lions a test against a challenging road opponent and gives the Lady Bulldogs an opportunity to open with a home victory.

The contest is part of a busy nonconference period for both teams. North Alabama will play several regional opponents in the coming weeks, while Mississippi State will mix home games with road trips and neutral-site appearances. The meeting at Humphrey Coliseum will give both teams an early look at their rotations and depth.

North Alabama’s schedule continues with a trip to Mississippi, followed by a visit to Jacksonville State. The Lions will then host Fisk before traveling to Vanderbilt. Later games include a home meeting with Jackson State, a home contest against Tennessee Southern, a trip to Evansville, a visit to Tennessee-Martin, a home game against Tennessee State and a road matchup at Queens (NC). The Lions will face a mix of regional opponents as they move through the opening weeks of the schedule.

Mississippi State’s upcoming slate starts with a trip to Tennessee-Martin, then a home game against Troy. The Lady Bulldogs will travel to Buffalo before returning home to face Alabama State. Further games include a trip to Southern Mississippi, contests in Fort Myers, Fla., against Indiana and Texas Christian, a home game against Virginia, a home matchup with Sam Houston and a home contest against Texas Tech. The schedule gives Mississippi State several early tests before conference play.

The teams will meet Tuesday with both records clean and early-season expectations still taking shape. North Alabama will seek to use its recent experience to challenge the Lady Bulldogs on the road, while Mississippi State will try to protect its home court and begin the campaign with a victory. The game is set for Humphrey Coliseum.

Interstat’s game simulator projects Mississippi State 69, North Alabama 60.