SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State senior forward Abi Jackson was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA Thursday, allowing her to compete for the Lady Bears beginning in the team's Nov. 27 season opener.

A Little Rock native and No. 1 recruit in the state of Arkansas coming out of Central High School in 2017, the 6-foot-3 Jackson spent the first part of her college career at Auburn before transferring to MSU in December 2019. She appeared in 59 games at Auburn, starting 12 contests as a freshman and blocking 40 shots in her career.

Jackson now has two full years of eligibility remaining after the NCAA Division I Council's decision to allow winter sport athletes an additional season of competition because of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri State is ranked 24th by the Associated Press and 25th in the USA Today Coaches Poll to begin the year and opens the 2020-21 campaign Nov. 27 at Florida Gulf Coast as part of the #BeachBubble at the Gulf Coast Showcase. MSU will also play No. 12/11 Maryland and Wake Forest at the event.