Ole Miss Drops Road Contest at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – The Ole Miss women’s basketball team couldn’t overcome a hot-shooting Missouri team that shot 60.9 percent from long range in a 100-65 loss to the Tigers on Thursday night.  Madinah Muhammad (Chicago, Ill.) led the Rebels with 26 points for her 17th game in double figures this season.  Her 26 points are a new career-high, and her team-best seven rebounds are also a career-best.

Ole Miss couldn’t get anything going to cut into the Missouri lead in the second half, but there were several bright spots with Ole Miss’ young players. Freshman Kate Rodgers (Birmingham, Ala.) and Bree Glover (Glasgow, Ky.) both got valuable minutes in the contest, and both made their way into the scorebook. Shandricka Sessom (Byhalia, Miss.) added 11 points and moves just 12 points from 1,000.

For the second straight game, Ole Miss struggled from the floor, shooting just 35.0 percent (21-of-60) from the field. Meanwhile, the Tigers shot a blistering 60.0 percent (30-of-50) from the floor and 60.9 percent (14-of-23) from long range.

The second quarter again proved to be a struggle for the Rebels, as they opened the quarter 0-of-7. Missouri used six three-pointers, including three from Sophie Cunningham, to open up a 26-point lead with 3:20 left in the first half. The Rebels found themselves in a 3:30 scoring drought before a free throw and a three-pointer from Muhammad with 48 seconds to go, but Mizzou took a 50-26 lead at halftime. Alissa Alston (New Haven, Conn.) was a bright spot in the first half with six points, while Muhammad reached double digits for the second straight game with 11 first-half points.

Ole Miss opened the game with five-point advantage courtesy of a game-opening triple from Sessom and a bucket from Muhammad. The Tigers didn’t waste any time making it a game with a 7-0 run to take a 7-5 lead before a Taylor Manuel (St. Louis. Mo.) bucket underneath ended the scoring drought for the Rebels.  Trailing 11-7 at the first quarter media timeout, the teams traded buckets and old-fashioned three-point plays before Mizzou used an 8-0 run to take a 22-12 lead. Alston ended the drought with a make from the free throw line, but the home team took a 24-13 lead the first end of the first quarter.

Rebel Sidelines
-Today’s game was a Homecoming for Taylor Manuel, who hails from St. Louis, Mo., just 120 miles outside of Columbia. The Missouri native had lots of friends and family in the stands.

-Shandricka Sessom moves just 12 points from 1,000 after scoring 11 points tonight. Sessom has now reached double figures in three straight games.

-Madinah Muhammad recorded her eighth game in double figures in the last nine games with 26 points, a new career-high.

-Ole Miss moves to 1-5 against ranked opponents this year. Ole Miss last defeated a ranked foe Dec. 14 when it upset then-No. 22 Oregon at The Pavilion at Ole Miss.

-Missouri’s win is the largest in the series, and the Tigers become the first team to score 100 points on the Rebels since Kentucky tallied 108 in 2014.

Up Next
Ole Miss will return home to close out the regular season on Sunday when it takes on Texas A&M on Senior Day. The Rebels and Aggies will square off at 4 p.m. CT from The Pavilion at Ole Miss on SEC Network.

Next Five Games
Feb. 23 – vs. Texas A&M                    4 PM – Senior Day
March 1-5 – at SEC Tournament                    TBA