STARKVILLE – Vic Schaefer has said recently he didn’t have a clear-cut timeframe on when the NCAA's decision concerning sophomore transfer Andra Espinoza-Hunter’s elgibility waiver would come down.

Wednesday night, Mississippi State’s head coach got his answer, and it’s one the rest of the country should be wary of. Espinoza-Hunter, a transfer from Connecticut, is eligible to play immediately.

“I am really happy for Andra,” Schaefer said. “I think the right decision was made, and we are really appreciative to everyone involved who spent time on this."

Espinoza-Hunter is a 5-foot-11 shooting guard from Ossining, New York. She played in seven games as a true freshman for Connecticut, averaging seven minutes per game.

Relations with the Huskies turned sour, and Espinoza-Hunter made a decision to transfer on Jan. 12 of this year. Less than a month later, she signed with Mississippi State.

“It wasn’t a good fit for me (at UConn) and it had nothing to do with playing time at all, even though I know a lot of people assume that,” Espinoza-Hunter said.

Before going to UConn, Espinoza-Hunter was the 2017 New York Gatorade Player of the Year. She averaged 36.9 points per game during her high school career.

Espinoza-Hunter also has experience in international play. She averaged 10.0 points per game for the United States U-16 National Team at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship, where the U.S. team went 4-1 and took home a bronze medal.

Schaefer said one of his biggest concerns for the No. 6 Bulldogs this season would be perimeter shooting. Junior Chloe Bibby looked to be the team’s best option from distance. Espinoza-Hunter adds another serious shooting threat.

She went 5-for-5 from deep in Mississippi State’s Maroon and White Scrimmage last month. Those shots came in 20 minutes of action before the team faced the men’s practice squad for another 20. She had 29 points in the full 40 minutes.

"Andra has worked extremely hard and has been great since the day she stepped foot on campus," Schaefer said. "She has prepared herself for this moment and will be ready to step in right away.”

Right away is Friday night at 6 p.m. on the road against Virginia, where Espinoza-Hunter is expected to play.