The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebels, Hill Toppers Gear Up For Wednesday
3/12/2001 | Women's Basketball
March 12, 2001
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Ole Miss (17-12)
vs.
Western Kentucky (17-13)
DATE: March 14, 2001
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
SITE: Bowling Green, Ky.
RADIO: Q93.7 FM
OLE MISS TO FACE WESTERN KENTUCKY IN WNIT FIRST ROUND
Ole Miss (17-12) will face Western Kentucky in the first round of the Women's NIT in Bowling Green, Ky. The game will be played Wednesday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the E.A. Diddle Arena, and can be heard on Q93.7 FM. The game will be also be on the internet at www.WQLJ.com.
ALDY IS IN FOURTH YEAR
Ron Aldy is in his fourth year as the person in charge of rebuilding Ole Miss women's basketball back to where it once was. Aldy has dedicated himself to making Ole Miss a winner on and off the court. After a difficult first season, Aldy guided the team to its 23rd winning season in 1999 and a return trip to postseason play. Following a return to postseason play two years ago, the ship appeared to be headed in the right direction for Ole Miss women's basketball. The 1999-2000 season was sailing along with a 10-2 start in non-conference action. Then the Lady Rebels hit SEC play, where they lost seven games by 10 points or less. Injuries began to mount, and the Lady Rebels were unable to get the ship back on course. Off the court, the Lady Rebels have made tremendous strides academically and in the community. In 1999, Ole Miss led the league with six players named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll and in 2000 were second with six. Since Aldy got here, five players have received their bachelor's degrees.
LADY REBELS ON SUPERTALK MISSISSIPPI 105.5 FM
For the past 15 years, all Lady Rebel home games have been broadcast on WQLJ Q93.7 FM. This year the Lady Rebel games will be broadcast on WTNM Supertalk Mississippi (105.5 FM), with each broadcast beginning 15 minutes prior to the scheduled tip-off. Gary Darby returns for his ninth season as the "Voice of the Lady Rebels".
OLE MISS FALLS TO GEORGIA IN SEC TOURNEY QUARTERFINALS
After defeating South Carolina in the first round of the SEC Tournament, Ole Miss fell to the eventual champion, Georgia, 80-61, in the quarterfinals. Please see page 19 for boxscore and recap.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
Western Kentucky, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, finished the regular season with a 17-13 overall record. They posted an 8-8 record in the SBC. The Hilltoppers defeated New Mexico State, 96-57, in the first round of the SBC Tournament before losing to Louisiana Tech, 86-63, in the quarterfinals. They have lost seven of their last 10 games. Western Kentucky is led by junior guard Natalie Powers, who averages 22.0 points per game. Senior ShaRae Mansfield is second on the team at 19.0 points and a team-leading 9.2 rebounds per game. The Hilltoppers are averaging 74.1 points per game and giving up 72.6. They are shooting 42.8 percent from the field while their opponents are shooting 42.5.
SERIES RECORD
Ole Miss and Western Kentucky have met four times previously with the series knotted at 2-2. The last time the two teams met was during the 1993-94 season in the championship game of the San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico, with WKU winning 78-62. The two teams have met once in postseason. The Hilltoppers defeated Ole Miss, 72-68, in the NCAA Elite Eight in 1985. Ole Miss won the only meeting in Bowling Green, a 66-61 victory on Jan. 5, 1983. Please see a recap and boxscore from the last meeting on page 5.
OLE MISS VS. KENTUCKY SCHOOLS
Ole Miss owns a 20-6 record (.769 winning percentage) versus schools from the state of Kentucky. The following is a list of the schools from Kentucky that Ole Miss has played and their records against those schools.
ROSTERS
Ole Miss does not have any players on its roster from Kentucky, and Western Kentucky does not have any players from Mississippi on its roster.
OLE MISS VS. THE SUNBELT CONFERENCE
The Lady Rebels own a 35-10 all-time record (.777 winning percentage) against the Sun Belt Conference. The following are the SBC schools that the Lady Rebels have faced and their records against those schools.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Ole Miss and Western Kentucky have played six common opponents. The Lady Rebels defeated Northern Arizona, Murray State, Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas State, and lost to Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt. Middle Tennessee defeated NAU, Tennessee Tech, Murray State, UALR (twice), and lost to Vanderbilt and Arkansas State (twice).
AND THE WINNER GETS
The winner of this game will meet the winner of the Indiana/Middle Tennessee game on either March 17, 18 or 19. Ole Miss has played both teams this season. They defeated Indiana, 69-67 in the title game of the Beach Classic, and MTSU, 72-53, on Dec. 6 in Oxford.
LOOKING AT INDIANA
Ole Miss owns a 2-0 record against Indiana. The Lady Rebels defeated the Hoosiers, 69-67 in the championship game of the Beach Classic this year. Indiana finished the regular season with a 19-10 overall record, 9-7 in the Big Ten. Indiana just missed out on making its first trip to the big dance since 1994-95. The Hoosiers defeated Minnesota, 78-56, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, before losing to Iowa, 81-76. Indiana is led by junior Jill Chapman, who is averaging 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Chapman and teammate Heather Cassidy were named to the All-Big Ten Team.
PEEKING AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Ole Miss owns a 12-2 series lead against Middle Tennessee. The Lady Rebels defeated the Lady Raiders, 72-53, in Oxford on Dec. 6. Middle Tennessee posted a 17-12 overall record, 9-7 in the Sun Belt Conference. They lost to North Texas, 72-53, in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Lady Raiders will enter the tournament having won nine of their last 12 games. The Lady Raiders are led by junior forward Jamie Thomatis, who is averaging 21.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
OLE MISS IN POSTSEASON PLAY
Lady Rebels have had a storied history in their 25-year existence, and part of that history has been Ole Miss' success in post season play. Ole Miss has played in 14 NCAA Tournaments, which is tied for 10th most in the nation. In their 14 tournament appearances, the Lady Rebels have advanced to four regional championship games (Elite Eight) and five regional semifnals (Sweet Sixteen). This is the second time the Lady Rebels have participated in the Women's NIT. Please see the box on page 9 for Ole Miss' postseason results.
MYATT NABS ANOTHER HONOR
Senior guard Becky Myatt picked up another honor recently. She was named to the Associated Press All-SEC Honorable Mention team. Myatt, a preseason All-SEC pick, was one of the top three-point shooters in the SEC all year, averaging 2.0 per game.
MOST WINS UNDER ALDY
The 17 wins that this year's team has achieved, are the most wins by a Lady Rebel team under Coach Aldy. The 1998-99 team finished 15-13 and made the WNIT. Should the Lady Rebels defeat Western Kentucky, it would be the most wins since the 1995-96 season, when Ole Miss went 18-11 and made the NCAA Tournament.
INJURY UPDATE
Senior Stephanie Murphy tore her ACL and had been playing with brace. She did not dress in the Lady Rebels' game against South Carolina or Georgia.
OLE MISS MAKING THE GRADE
The Lady Rebels placed six players on the 2001 SEC Academic Honor Roll. Tennessee led the conference with seven players on the honor roll. In each of Ron Aldy's four years, Ole Miss has ranked in the top three in the SEC with the number of players on the honor roll. Takela Corbitt (Biomedical Science), Shayla Day (Journalism), Von Kirk (Elementary Education), TaShondrea Moton (Marketing), Stephanie Murphy (Exercise Science) and Becky Myatt (Exercise Science) were all named to the 2001 SEC Academic Honor Roll. Myatt has been named to the honor roll in each of the three seasons she was eligible.
LADY REBELS ONE OF WINNINGEST TEAMS IN SEC
Since the Southeastern Conference began regular-season play in the 1981-82 season, the Lady Rebels have posted a winning record in conference play in 11 of 19 years. The Lady Rebels are one of six teams to have won 100 conference games. Tennessee, Georgia, Auburn, Vanderbilt and LSU are the other five SEC schools which have won 100 conference games. Alabama needs one SEC win to join the group. The Lady Rebels have 106 conference wins.
GIVE HER THE ASSIST
Junior guard Sherika Wright dished out four assists in the Florida game to reach 100 for the season. She is averaging 3.88 per game, which ranks eighth in the SEC and has 111 for the year.
DID YOU SEE THAT?
Senior Becky Myatt thought time had run out in the first half of the Kentucky game, but she kept hearing the coaches yell at her to shoot the ball. So, she threw it up from halfcourt, and it went in to give the Lady Rebels a 13-point lead. It was Myatt's first time to sink a halfcourt shot as a Lady Rebel. She did it twice before coming to Ole Miss.
SEC ROAD WINS HARD TO COME BY
The SEC is arguably the top conference in women's basketball and so a road win is nice anyway you can get it. The Lady Rebels' road win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, was their first conference road win since they defeated Arkansas in Fayetteville in 1998-99. With their win at Kentucky, the Lady Rebels have now won three SEC road games in a season for the first time since the 1993-94 season. That year, Ole Miss defeated Kentucky, South Carolina, LSU and Mississippi State on the road.
CONSECUTIVE SEC WINS
For the first time since the 1999 season, the Lady Rebels claimed consecutive SEC games with their wins over Mississippi State and South Carolina. In 1999, the Lady Rebels beat Mississippi State and Kentucky on Jan. 7 and 10.
INMON DOUBLES UP AGAIN
Freshman forward Tywanna Inmon recorded her fourth career double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the loss to Florida. It was her third double-double in conference play. She scored 19 points and 10 rebounds against Mississippi State and 14 points and 10 rebounds versus LSU. Inmon has nine double-digit games and has grabbed at least seven rebounds in 10 games. Inmon is averaging 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game overall. In conference games only she led the team with 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
MULTIPLE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Tywanna Inmon is one of 24 SEC players to have multiple double-doubles this season. Florida's Naomi Mobley leads the league with 12 double-doubles. Three of Inmon's double-doubles were against SEC foes.
FRESHMAN EARNS FIRST START
Freshman forward Tenisha Gist earned her first career start against Florida. Gist finished with three points, a career-best four assists and two steals. She started three-straight games before coming off the bench in the regular season finale at Arkansas.
MYATT NAMED TO SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM
Senior Becky Myatt was named to the SEC Good Works Team. Myatt, a native of Bon Aqua, Tenn., is active in the Champs Life Skills program at Ole Miss volunteering her time at the local retirement home, mentoring elementary kids and helping out in the community. She helped build a community-wide playground. Myatt is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, M-Club and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 60
It appears that when the Lady Rebels score at least 60 points, they are going to win the game. They are 16-6 when scoring 60 points or more and 1-6 when scoring less than 60.
EXTRA TIME
In the win over Belmont, the Lady Rebels improved to 9-10 overall in overtime games and 5-1 in overtime games at home. The Belmont game was the first overtime game since a 62-61 overtime win against Missouri-Kansas City on Dec. 19, 1998. The Lady Rebel's last home overtime game was a 1991-92 win (80-78) against Tennessee.
MYATT SETS THREE-POINT RECORD
With 15:48 to go in the first half of the Tennessee Tech game, Becky Myatt hit her 195th career three-pointer, becoming the all-time leader. She passed Regan Seybert who had 194 from 1994-97. Myatt hit her 200th career three-pointer in the Vanderbilt game and has 227.
ANOTHER GRAND PLAYER?
Becky Myatt accomplished two milestones against Tennessee Tech. She scored 17 points to become the 19th Lady Rebel to score 1,000 points in a career. She is in 15th place with 1,174 points and needs eight to pass Charlotte Banks for 14th place.
MYATT FROM DOWNTOWN
Becky Myatt has scored at least one three-pointer in 56 of the last 63 games dating back to the Mississippi State game on Feb. 11 of 1999. She has hit a three-pointer in 22 out of the last 24 games this year.
MYATT DISHES OUT 300TH ASSIST
Becky Myatt tallied three assists in the win over Belmont to record her 300th career assist. She has 333 career assists.
MORE MILESTONES FOR MYATT
Becky Myatt recorded her 400th career rebound in the win over Mississippi State and has 436. She is averaging 4.0 per game this year. She notched a career-best 10 rebounds against Arkansas State and has six games with at least seven rebounds.
MYATT AND DOUBLE DIGITS
Becky Myatt has scored in double digits in 19 of the last 24 games. She has 63 career double-digit games.
STARTING AT GUARD
Becky Myatt marked another accomplishment in her outstanding career in the Vanderbilt game. In front of her home state, and family and friends, Myatt started her 100th consecutive career game and has now started 116 career games. In addition, Myatt has led the team in minutes played averaging nearly 33 minutes per game.
HOW DID THE START RANK?
The Lady Rebels 11-0 start to the season, was the best start since the 1988-89 season, when Ole Miss started the season 13-0 before losing at Tennessee, 68-61. The Lady Rebels went on to advance to the NCAA Elite Eight that year.
CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES
Where does the 11-game winning streak rank in Ole Miss history. The Lady Rebels' 11-game winning streak to start the season, ties for the third best in the history of the program. The 1991-92 team won 25 consecutive games and the 1984-85 team won 24 straight. This year's streak tied the 1975-76 and 1982-83 teams.
STREAK COMES TO AN END
With their loss to Tennessee Tech, Ole Miss ended a streak that saw them win 14 consecutive non-conference games at Tad Smith Coliseum dating back to Nov. 22, 1998. Their last home non-conference loss prior to Tennessee Tech, was against Clemson on Nov. 16, 1998.
LADY REBELS MAKE THE GRADE
Several Lady Rebels were impressive in the classroom last fall, making one of the three University Honor Rolls. Kim Ufford made the Chancellor's Honor. Becky Myatt made the Dean's Honor Roll. Takela Corbitt, Tenisha Gist, Leah Henley, Tywanna Inmon and TaShondrea Moton made the UMAA Honor Roll. All four of the managers made one of the honor rolls as well. Emily Brawner and Tiffany Gray made the Chancellor's Honor Roll, Amanda Walker made the Dean's Honor Roll and Brittany Aldy made the UMAA Honor Roll.
TRIPLE DOUBLE
The Lady Rebels have had three players score in double digits in 18 of the first 29 games. They are 13-5 when at least three players score in double digits and 4-6 when less than three players record double digits.
SPREADING IT AROUND
The Lady Rebels are more balanced this year and have more depth. Just look at the minutes per game. Through their first 29 games, 10 players are averaging double-digit minutes, including freshman Tywanna Inmon, who is averaging 22.2 minutes per game.
TAKIN' IT TO THE HOLE
The Lady Rebels are taking the ball to the hole more often this year than they have in the past. In the first 29 games, the Lady Rebels have attempted 629 free throws, 170 more than the 459 they attempted last year.
TAKE IT AWAY
In their first 29 games, the Lady Rebels are averaging 8.7 steals per game. They only averaged 7.5 last year. Against Southeastern Louisiana, the Lady Rebels recorded a season-best 23 steals.
BACK AT THE TOP
Last year, the Lady Rebels averaged a league-leading 7.25 three-pointers per game. Through the first 29 games of this season, the Lady Rebels are averaging 6.1 threes per game and rank third in the SEC. Senior guard Becky Myatt is averaging 2.0 treys per game.
AND IN CONFERENCE PLAY
In conference games only, the Lady Rebels led the league with 6.6 three-pointers per game.
STREAK STILL ALIVE
Ole Miss hit 10 three-pointers against Georgia in the SEC Tournament. They have now hit at least one three-pointer in 203 consecutive games. The NCAA record for consecutive games with at least one three-pointer is held by Louisville, who has hit a three-pointer in 290 straight games since 1991.
OLE MISS SUCCESSFUL IN REGULAR SEASON TOURNAMENTS
With their Beach Classic title, the Lady Rebels have won 36 regular season tournament titles. Ole Miss now owns a 108-26 record in regular season tournaments. The Lady Rebels defeated Wichita State 68-62 in the first round of the Beach Classic and then rallied to beat Indiana 69-67 for the title. They Lady Rebels also won the Vermont Howard Bank Classic in November. They downed Radford University 91-62 in the first round and then defeated Vermont 85-75 in the championship game.
MVP AGAIN
Senior guard Becky Myatt scored 20 points including two key three-pointers in the final seconds against Indiana, to earn Most Valuable Player of the Beach Classic. This marked the second such honor for Myatt this season, as she also earned MVP status at the Vermont Howard Bank Classic.
MYATT ON ALL-TOURNEY TEAMS
Becky Myatt's selection to the All-Tournament team of the Beach Classic makes it four in a row. She was named to both the Montana State Gran Tree Inn Classic All-Tournament Team and the Northern Arizona Hilton Garden Inn Classic All-Tournament Team last year.
SHERIKA ENJOYED THE BEACH TOO
Junior college transfer Sherika Wright had a good time at the Beach Classic as well, scoring 27 points and eight assists in two games to make the All-Tournament team. She scored 12 of her 14 points against Indiana in the second half to help ignite the Lady Rebel comeback.
TRAVELING WITH THE LADY REBELS
The Lady Rebels are one of the most well-traveled teams in the nation, having visited 33 states including Washington, D.C., and Aruba and Puerto Rico. This year, the Lady Rebels visited Vermont for the first time and traveled to Long Beach Calif, for the Beach Classic.
LADY REBELS GOLDEN IN WIN OVER TIGERS
The Lady Rebels 50-point margin against West Alabama, tied for the ninth widest margin of victory in the history of the program. Ole Miss defeated Montevallo 100-50 on Dec. 3, 1977.
OLE MISS WINS VERMONT HOWARD BANK CLASSIC
The Lady Rebels, behind the stellar guard play of Becky Myatt Von Kirk, and Sherika Wright, captured the Vermont Howard Bank Classic in Burlington, Vt. Myatt scored 23 points including two key three-pointers at the end of the game to lead the Lady Rebels to an 85-75 win over Vermont in the championship game. She also had seven rebounds to earn tournament MVP honors. Kirk, who tallied 17 points was also named to the All-Tournament team. Wright scored in double digits both nights with 20 and 16 points respectively. Ole Miss downed Radford University in the first round 91-62.
MYATT GARNERS SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior guard Becky Myatt was rewarded again, for her outstanding play in the Vermont Howard Bank Classic by being named the SEC Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 20. Myatt averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. She sank two crucial three-pointers with just over four minutes remaining in the championship game to seal the title for the Lady Rebels. Myatt is the ninth Lady Rebel to be named SEC Player of the Week and the first since Tarsha Bethley earned the honor in November of 1998.
MYATT NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-SEC TEAM
Senior guard Becky Myatt was named to the 2000-01 preseason All-SEC second team. The team was voted on by the media members attending SEC Media Days Nov. 1-2 in Birmingham. Myatt is one of six guards on either the first or second team. Myatt averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game last year. She ranked among the top five in the SEC in three-pointers per game.
IMPRESSIVE OUTSIDE THE SEC
The Lady Rebels have compiled an impressive record outside the Southeastern Conference in regular-season play since 1990. Ole Miss owns a 132-48 record (.733 winning percentage) versus non-conference teams since 1990. The Lady Rebels' best non-conference record since came during the 1991-92 SEC Championship season, as they compiled a 15-1 mark versus non-conference foes. The Lady Rebels have an overall 52-9 record (.852 winning percentage) versus non-conference opponents on this year's schedule.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Ole Miss has appeared on television three times this year. College Sports Southeast did the game at Mississippi State, and Comcast broadcasted the the Tennessee game. FoxSportsNetSouth televised the Auburn game on Feb. 18 in Tad Smith Coliseum.
TIP-INS
Senior Stephanie Murphy graduated last year and is taking graduate courses...She is also serving as a minister at Providence Methodist Church ...Murphy gave her first sermon on Oct. 15...Chandra Dorsey, a Criminal Justice major, interned this summer with the University Police Department ...Takela Corbitt attended the NCAA Leadership conference this summer...Happy March Birthday to sophomore Shayla Day (11th), sports information director Kimberly Ling (20th) and senior Kesha Howell (21st).
