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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
1-3
Middle Tennessee State
1-2
Joseph With 20 Points in Ole Miss Loss
11/22/2015 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 22, 2015
Boxscore
MURFREESEBORO, Tenn. - Junior forward Shequila Joseph (London, England) posted 20 points and scored 14 points in the third quarter but it wasn't enough for the Ole Miss women's basketball team fell, 84-75 to Middle Tennessee State on Sunday in the third and final installment of Insell vs. Insell.
In her first start since the 2014-15 season-opener, Joseph posted her second consecutive game in double figures and her first back-to-back game in double figures since her freshman season
Ole Miss went to work on the defensive end in the fourth quarter and after trailing by as many as 23 points clawed their way back into the game in the fourth quarter getting as close to nine points in the fourth, but they couldn't overcome the Raiders, 14 three-point field goals in the loss.
Ole Miss trailed by nine at halftime, but that lead swelled to 23 points by the fourth quarter as the home team recorded 29 third quarter points, led by 11 from Brea Edwards including nine points from long range but Ole Miss clawed its way back in with the help of 10 points of the bench from Kiara Golden (Olive Branch, Miss.) and nine from freshman Alissa Alston (New Haven, Conn.)
Rebounding and three-point shooting were the tale of the game. Ole Miss entered the game averaging 50.3 rebounds per game, but was held to just 39 in today's contest and lost the rebounding battle, 47-39. Additionally, the Blue Raiders nailed 14 triples becoming the second consecutive opponent to reach double-digit three-point field goals.
The Rebels opened the game on a tear scoring the first two buckets before the home team got going with a bucket from Brea Edwards. The first quarter was a chess match as neither team could take more than a two possession lead throughout. Ole Miss' leading scorer, Sessom led the way with nine first quarter points. At the first quarter media timeout, Ole Miss held a slim 13-11 lead and from that point the teams exchanged buckets the rest of the quarter with and the Rebels took a two-point, 22-20 lead at the end of the quarter.
Ole Miss defense seemed to get back on track in the contest, as the Rebels forced Middle Tennessee into 11 first half turnovers resulting in five points. Additionally, Ole Miss' athleticism was on display as they recorded four fast break points. In the final 4:50 of the second quarter, Middle Tennessee used a 9-0 run to take a 25-32 lead, but Ole Miss dug in on defense forcing two turnovers and a big charge from freshman Torri Lewis (Olive Branch, Miss.) late in the half. Despite the renewed efforts on the defensive end, Ole Miss couldn't muster anything on the offensive end scoring just five points in the second quarter. The Blue Raiders closed with a 4-2 spurt including the last bucket of the half to take a 36-27 lead at the half.
From The Head Coach
On the game ...
"It's been this way in the second and third quarters we just go silent, why is that I don't know and I can't explain it. We're driving the ball every time we get it and we maybe get fouled at the rim but I don't know, I do know that we still have to be tough and score the basketball. We're getting good shots at the rim and we need somebody to step up and become our go-to player. When we need a bucket you have to score and when we need a stop you have to get it. That's stuff we're asking them to do and we're working on every day, we just aren't seeing a lot of carry over at times. People keep saying it's because we're young but at the end of the day you have to play the game no matter what age you are. "It wasn't all around awful, some people showed up tonight. Shequila Joseph responded for two straight games and played hard and that's what we need."
On some takeaways from the game ...
Our defensive intensity was better than it has been in the past. I liked early on our offensive execution. There was so much I liked but there is so much I got frustrated with."
On the team's mentality ...
"We went 9-of-19 from the free throw line, Kiara Golden a great shooter, went 1-of-6 from the line. They just don't know how close they are. We play when we feel like its over. We beg them to trap and press in the first three quarters but in the fourth quarter we have to do it and they get up there and do it. Eventually it will come."
Rebel Sidelines
-Today's match was the third installment of Insell vs. Insell. The Insell's made history last season becoming the first father-son duo to square off in a NCAA women's basketball game and a postseason game in the WNIT third round. Middle Tennessee leads the series 3-0 and has won the last four games against Ole Miss.
-Today's game was the first of a three-game road trip for the Rebels. Ole Miss will head to New York for a pair of games over the Thanksgiving holiday. The three-game road swing is the longest of the season for the Rebels.
-Shandricka Sessom posted her fifth consecutive game in double figures with17 points. Sessom is averaging 11.6 points in three meetings against the Blue Raiders.
-Ole Miss debuted its third starting lineup this season. Ole Miss started with Sisk (G), Sessom (G), Muhammad (G), Hayes (G) and Joseph (F).
- Shequila Joseph made her first start since starting the first game of the 2014-15 season against Grambling. As a freshman, Joseph started every game.
-Today's game was the second televised contest of the season for the Rebels and is the third non-conference televised game of the Insell era
Up Next
Ole Miss heads to the Big Apple for the Thanksgiving holiday. Ole Miss will take on Stony Brook on Friday, Nov. 27 before closing their Big Apple adventure against Wagner on Sunday, Nov. 29. Ole Miss and Stony Brook will tipoff at 1 pm CT and the Wagner game will tip at 12 pm CT.
Keep Up With the Rebels
Keep up to date with the Ole Miss women's basketball team throughout the season on social media. For all Ole Miss women's basketball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell.
