Ole Miss Women Fall at Georgia

February 7, 2016

ATHENS, Ga. (WCBI/Ole Miss Athletics) – The Ole Miss women’s basketball team (10-13, 2-8 SEC) got as close as 11 points in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overcome Georgia’s 26 point third quarter as they dropped a 70-56 contest to Georgia on Super Bowl Sunday. Madinah Muhammad (Chicago, Ill.) led the Ole Miss offense with 15 points while A’Queen Hayes (Horn Lake, Miss) added 10 rebounds.

Ole Miss was helped by reserves Jonell Williams (Palatka, Fla.), who hasn’t played in the last six games, but came in and tallied eight points and seven rebounds and Cecilia Muhate Pena (Madrid, Spain) added five points and five rebounds in the loss.

After Georgia’s 26-point third quarter, Ole Miss battled to get back in and got as close as 11 points in the final 2:50 but the home team weathered the Rebel rally and picked up the victory.

The lead continued to go back –and-forth between the two teams but Ole Miss’ three-point shooting was the difference highlighted by Muhammad nailed four treys for her eighth game of multiple three-pointers this season and a new career high from long range. Georgia used a 26-point third quarter and held Ole Miss to just 14 in the third frame to take a 56-44 lead heading into the third and final quarter of action.

The game shaped up to be a game of runs, as the Lady Bulldogs opened the second quarter on a 7-0 run to 9-3 to take a 23-20 lead at the media timeout, but freshman Madinah Muhammad (Chicago, Ill.) shifted the momentum midway through with a half with a triple from the top of the key as the Rebels went into halftime tied 30-30 but with momentum.

Georgia opened the game with six unanswered points forcing head coach Matt Insell to take a timeout at the 7:44 mark of the first quarter which sparked an 8-2 Rebel run highlighted by triples from Sessom and Muhammad and saw Ole Miss take a 12-10 lead, which they extended to 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Rebels clamped down on defense and forced the home team into five turnovers leading to 10 points for Ole Miss. The first quarter featured three ties and four leads changes with neither team pulling ahead by more than six points.

Rebel Sidelines

-Today’s game was the 44thth meeting between Georgia and Ole Miss. The Lady Bulldogs lead the all-time series 31-12 and today’s win was the first win for Ole Miss in Oxford since the 2010 season and was just the second win on Georgia’s home floor.

-Ole Miss moved to 6-15 on Super Bowl Sunday and before todays win last defeated LSU on Super Bowl Sunday in 2010.

-Madinah Muhammad posted her seventh game in double figures with 15 points, which snapped her three-game scoreless streak.

-Torri Lewis hit a triple for the fifth consecutive game.

-Shandricka Sessom scored just eight points and snapped her six game double figure scoring streak

Up Next

The Rebels welcome Auburn to The Pavilion at Ole Miss on Thursday (Jan. 11) for a matchup on SEC Network+ with Armintie Herrington and Richard Cross on the call. Rebels in the Oxford, Lafayette area can hear Graham Doty and Armintie Herrington on the call on 105.1/105.5 in Oxford/Batesville and on OleMissSports.com

Next Five Games
2/11/16- vs. Auburn 6 p.m. SEC Network+
2/15/16 – vs. Texas A&M 6 p.m. SEC Network
2/18/16- at Tennessee 6 p.m. SEC Network+
2/21/16- vs. Mississippi State* 4 p.m. ESPN2
2/25/16- vs. South Carolina 8 p.m. SEC Network&

*Play4Kay/Tickled Pink at The Pavilion Game
&- SEC Network Whiparound coverage