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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
(2-413-6 SEC)
South Carolina
(6-016-1 SEC)
Rebels Fall to No. 5 South Carolina
1/19/2017 | Women's Basketball
Box Score 
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Ole Miss women's basketball team battled from start to finish with the No. 5 South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday night but couldn't score the upset road victory, falling 65-46 at the Colonial Life Arena.
Ole Miss scored five straight to open the fourth quarter and got the lead to 15 points, 55-40, at the 8:08 mark, but back-to-back big points from South Carolina's Bianca Cuevas-Moore stopped any of Ole Miss' momentum and sparked a 7-0 South Carolina run which saw the Gamecocks pull ahead, 59-40 at the media timeout, a lead they wouldn't give up the rest of the way.
Taylor Manuel (St. Louis, Mo.) was a huge spark in the second half for the Rebels. The forward scored 13 points in the second half and was Ole Miss' presence in the paint throughout. Shandricka Sessom (Byhalia, Miss.) added 11 points for Ole Miss - her third straight game in double figures and 15th of the season. Sessom also lead the way on the glass with seven rebounds. Ole Miss couldn't get any offensive rhythm all night, shooting just 36 percent (19-of-52) from the floor, and was 6-of-14 from the free throw line.
Out of halftime, Ole Miss forced a South Carolina turnover on the first play and a foul on the other end sent Manuel to the line. The forward tallied five early points and established herself in the paint for the Rebels, who tried to chip away at the Gamecock lead by getting out in transition and getting to the free throw line. Ole Miss was able to make some headway but couldn't stop the Gamecocks Kaela Davis, who seemed to make shots from everywhere.
The game was fairly evenly played in the first quarter with the Gamecocks leading 12-7 at the first media timeout. The Rebels made the Gamecocks convert from the line early with six of their first 12 points coming from the free throw line. Sessom converted on a beautiful backdoor pass to cut the lead to 12-9, but the home team used an 8-2 spurt to take a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 20-11.
Sessom, who historically has been successful against South Carolina, continued that trend in the first quarter with six of Ole Miss' 11 points, which led to 10 first-half.
Ole Miss cut the lead to five points, 20-15, with four consecutive points to start the second quarter, but nine first-half turnovers led to South Carolina points, particularly in the second quarter. Ole Miss had six in the second quarter, which led to 12 South Carolina points. The Rebels had success in the paint with 12 points, but trailed 37-22 at halftime.
Rebel Sidelines
-Today's game against South Carolina was the fourth straight against teams ranked in the top 20 of the NCAA's RPI. (at Auburn, vs. Tennessee, at Mississippi State, at South Carolina)
-The all-time series between Ole Miss and South Carolina moves to 21-17
-Today's game is the second consecutive road game against an AP-ranked top five opponents for the Rebels. Ole Miss last defeated an AP-ranked top-5 team in 1987. Ole Miss is 12-72 against top-five AP ranked teams.
-Shandricka Sessom was in double figures for the third straight game and the 15th time this season.
-Bree Glover made her SEC debut tonight. She had 2 points.
Up Next
Ole Miss returns home to The Pavilion at Ole Miss to take on Alabama on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT, and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
Next Five Games
Jan. 22-vs. Alabama 2 PM
Jan. 26 - at Kentucky 6 PM
Jan. 29 - vs. Georgia 2 PM
Feb. 6 - at Florida 6 PM
Feb. 9 - vs. LSU 6 PM
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 on Instagram at Ole MissWBB and on Snapchat with the handle @OleMissWBB. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell.
