The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebels Defeat UNC Charlotte
6/21/1999 | Women's Basketball
November 27, 1998
ORONO, Maine - The Ole Miss women's basketball team, led by three players in double figures, including a double-double from senior Tarsha Bethley and career-highs from Frankie Boyd (22) and Becky Myatt (19), defeated UNC Charlotte in the first round of the Deer Run Company Classic hosted by the University of Maine. The Lady Rebels improved to 3-1, while the 49ers dropped to 1-3 on the season.
"Midway through the second half we started missing some shots and they started making some shots and all of a sudden the lead was down to eight or nine," head coach Ron Aldy said. "We can't allow that to happen if we are going to win tomorrow."
Bethley led Ole Miss in scoring with 22 points and notched her 12th career double-double with 10 rebounds. She has scored in double digits in every game this year. Bethley was 7-of-14 from the floor including 2-of-5 from three-point range. Myatt scored a career-high on 4-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. She was also 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
Tonya Phifer led UNC Charlotte with 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting. Nikki Richardson chipped in 20 points and led the 49ers in rebounding with seven boards. Claire Mollison added 13 points on three three-pointers in the second half.
The game stayed close until the final two minutes of the second half when the Lady Rebels made 12 free throws to take a 13 point lead into the locker room. Ole Miss built a 19 point lead with 18:08 in the second half on a three-pointer by Myatt.
UNC Charlotte cut the lead to eight with 6:46 left in the game on 10 points from Mollison including two three-pointers. The Lady Rebels got it back up to 11 with 2:29 to go on a jumper by Bethley. The 49ers Richardson hit a three with 1:04 remaining, but Myatt and Bethley both made their free-throws to seal the win.
Ole Miss shot 46.3 percent from the field, while UNC Charlotte finished at 43.1 percent. The Lady Rebels shot 65.9 percent from the free-throw line, while the 49ers made only 56.7 percent from the charity stripe.
The Lady Rebels will play the winner of the Maine/St. Bonaventure game for the Deer Run Company Classic itle. Ole Miss will be looking to capture its 33rd regular season tournament title. The Lady Rebels are 96-24 in regular season tournament games.
