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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
10-15 (3-10SEC)
Arkansas
17-8 (5-8SEC)
Arkansas Tops Women's Hoops, 56-53
2/17/2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2011
Video
Oxford, Miss. - After trailing by as many as 14, the Ole Miss women's basketball team cut Arkansas' lead to two with under three minutes remaining but couldn't take the lead as the Razorbacks posted the 56-53 win.
With the loss, Ole Miss, who is still without leading scorer and captain Kayla Melson, fell to 10-15 (3-10 SEC) while Arkansas improved to 17-8 (5-8 SEC). It was also Arkansas' first-ever win in Oxford.
Nikki Byrd led all scorers with 18 points, one off her career high, while Valencia McFarland added 16 points and seven assists. Courtney Marbra recorded a team-high nine boards while LaTosha Laws added eight.
"I don't know how you start the game 0-and-8 to start the game," head coach Renee Ladner said. "I don't know if it's being young. We really challenged our kids at the half and they responded. Nikki was unstoppable tonight - this is how we expect her to play."
Ole Miss started off the game shooting 1-of-8 from the floor before a jumper from Byrd at 14:52 brought the score to 8-4 in Arkansas' favor.
The Razorbacks went on a 12-2 run and held Ole Miss scoreless for seven minutes as Arkansas went up 24-10 with 6:35 to play in the half.
Baskets from McFarland on back-to-back possessions late in the half, cut Arkansas' lead to 26-10 with 45 seconds left in the half as the Razorbacks led at the half, 28-16.
Ole Miss shot 24.1 percent (7-of-29) from the floor in the half while Arkansas shot 37.1 percent (13-of-35).
Ole Miss used a 12-2 run, including six points from Byrd, to pull to within four, 36-32, with 13:53 to play.
Ole Miss will travel to Alabama on Sunday for a 2 p.m. game with the Crimson Tide.
