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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
2-1
South Alabama
2-1
Byrd's Double-Double Leads Ole Miss Past South Alabama
11/18/2011 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - Nikki Byrd recorded her sixth career double-double as Ole Miss downed South Alabama, 54-45, Friday night.
With the win Ole Miss improved to 2-1 overall while South Alabama fell to 2-1 overall. Ole Miss head coach Renee Ladner picked up her 60th career victory Friday night with the win over South Alabama.
Byrd recorded a team-high 12 points and 16 rebounds. Valencia McFarland added 11 points and six assists and Danielle McCray recorded eight points and eight rebounds.
"Tonight's game was completely about the defensive end of the floor," Ladner said. "We defended, rebounded and everybody stayed within the game plan for the most part. We struggled to score at times but we played great defensive so I'm proud of that."
The first half stayed close until Courtney Marbra hit a pair free throws to give Ole Miss a five-point lead, 23-18, with 6:21 left in the half. The Rebels went on a 7-0 run over the last 5:42 of the game to take a 30-20 lead at the half.
Ole Miss shot 33.3 percent from the floor in the first half (11-33) while South Alabama shot 27.6 (8-30). McCray led Ole Miss with six points in the first half while Byrd grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
In the second half, Ole Miss pushed its lead to 13, 38-25, on a three-point play from McFarland.
The Jaguars cut the lead to five, 45-40, with 4:39 remaining but a three-point play by Byrd pushed the Rebels' lead back up to 10, 50-40, with 2:44 to play.
The Rebels shot 28.1 percent from the floor (18-64) while the Jaguars shot 25.8 percent (17-66). Ole Miss outrebounded South Alabama, 58-42. That marks the most rebounds for the Rebels since they recorded 50 on November 13, 2010 in a win against Sam Houston State.
Ole Miss will play at SEMO on Monday at 7 p.m.
