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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Florida
Florida Edges Lady Rebels, 71-65
2/15/2001 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's basketball team hung around the ninth-ranked Florida Lady Gators Thursday, and put themselves in a position to have the last shot, but could not pull down a crucial rebound in the final moments to have their chance at victory.
The Lady Rebels, down 68-65, fouled senior Misty Knight with 17.8 seconds remaining in the game. Knight went to the line to shoot the two-shot bonus and missed both free-throws, but, Lady Gator freshman Vanessa Hayden grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 14.3 seconds remaining in the game. Hayden went to the line and sealed the victory for Florida as she sank both free-throws.
"We had our chances in the game," said Ole Miss head coach Ron Aldy. "We dug ourselves a hole in the first half. In the second half we got back in the game, but could not get over the hump."
Ole Miss took a 9-6 lead with 15:42 remaining in the first half on a TaShondrea Moton lay-up, it would be the Lady Rebel's last lead of the game. The Lady Gators went on to outscore Ole Miss 35-23 the rest of the half en route to a 41-32 halftime lead.
"They have a lot of size inside," said Aldy. "We had trouble with it in the first half. In the second half, we settled down and handled their big girls better."
The Lady Gators scored the first three points of the second half to open their largest lead of the game at 44-32. Ole Miss chipped away at the lead behind junior Saundra Jackson's inside play. Jackson scored 15 of her 17 points in the second half to keep the Lady Rebels within striking distance. Freshman forward Tywanna Inmon made a three-point shot with 21 seconds left, on an assist from Jackson, to bring the Lady Rebels to within three at 68-65.
Florida was led by senior guard Tombi Bell who scored a game-high 26 points including 10-of-13 from the line. Bell added eight rebounds and four assists in leading the Lady Gators to victory. Junior forward Monique Cardenas chipped in 17 points for Florida and Hayden added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
Ole Miss was led by Jackson and Inmon. Jackson grabbed eight rebounds to go along with her 17 points and Inmon led the Lady Rebels with a career-high 12 boards and also scored 17 points. It marks her fourth career double-double and third in conference play. Senior Becky Myatt scored 10 points and freshman Tenisha Gist dished out four assists in her first career start.
Florida shot 46 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free throw line. Ole Miss was held to 33 percent shooting from the field including 26 percent from the three-point line. They hit 8-of-15 free throws for 61.9 percent.
The Lady Rebels will play their final home game of the 2000-2001 season when they host Auburn on Sunday at Tad Smith Coliseum. Game time is set for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on FoxSportsNetSouth. The first 50 students to the game will receive a free "Aldy's Army" t-shirt.
