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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
10-13 (3-8SEC)
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Mississippi State
10-13 (2-9SEC)
State Beats Rebels, 59-43
2/10/2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - Mississippi State used an 11-2 run late in the second half to pull away from Ole Miss as the Rebels fell to the Bulldogs 59-43 Thursday night.
With the loss Ole Miss fell to 10-13 overall (3-8 SEC) while Mississippi State improved to 10-13 (2-9 SEC).
The Rebels were without leading scorer Kayla Melson for the second consecutive game who is listed as day-to-day. The Rebels used a young starting lineup for the second straight game of three true freshmen and two sophomores.
Valencia McFarland led Ole Miss with 16 points and seven assists while Courtney Marbra added nine points and seven boards.
"We are going through a period trying to find our identity without our verbal and floor leader," head coach Renee Ladner said. "We are struggling covering the three ball. We didn't quit playing tonight but we didn't do anything particularly well."
Mississippi State started the game with a 15-2 lead with 15:53 remaining in the first half as the Rebels started the game shooting just 1-of-7 from the floor. Six straight points from McFarland sparked an 11-0 run as Ole Miss pulled to within two, 17-15, with 8:15 to play.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead back to 11, 26-15, with 3:20 to play. The Rebels cut the lead to seven, 29-22, on a three-point play from Marbra with 56 seconds left but Mississippi State hit a three with 38 seconds remaining in the half as the Bulldogs held a 32-22 lead at the half.
Ole Miss shot 34.6 percent (9-of-26) from the floor in the first half while Mississippi State shot 12-of-28 percent (42.9 percent). McFarland led Ole Miss with eight first-half points while Marbra and Pa'Sonna Hope each grabbed four boards.
A jumper from Maggie McFerrin with 13:25 to play cut Mississippi State's lead to 38-33. After back-to-back three pointers, the Bulldogs held a 14-point lead, 55-41, with 2:49 to play.
The Rebels ended the game shooting 32.1 percent (18-of-56) from the floor while the Bulldogs shot 41.5 percent (22-of-53).
Ole Miss will host No. 24/RV Georgia Sunday at 1 p.m. in a game televised by CSS. Sunday is also "Youth League Day" where anyone in a youth league jersey will be given free admission. The game is also the Alumni Reunion Game where former Ole Miss players will be in attendance.
