The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
8-1
Memphis
2-7
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ole Miss Lady Rebels | 38 | 49 | 87 |
| MEMPHIS | 35 | 46 | 81 |
Ole Miss Prevails Against Memphis, 87-81
12/16/2005 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2005
Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Just two days after upending No. 7 Rutgers, the Ole Miss Lady Rebels (8-1) got a slow start against a home Memphis (2-7) team that was coming off an eight-day break. But behind 21 points and 12 rebounds from Armintie Price, the Lady Rebels prevailed, 87-81.
The two teams stood toe-to-toe for the early part of the first half, as the lead flopped seven times as Memphis shot 42.3 percent from the floor to hang with the Lady Rebels. Ole Miss built a lead of as many as seven points, up 19-12 with 8:57 remaining in the first half, before Memphis went on a 12-6 run that gave the Lady Tigers their first lead since the opening minutes of the game, 25-24, as Devin Necaise hit a runner with 6:29 remaining in the half. Memphis then built its lead to 30-24 before Price answered back. Price hit six straight points to tie the game at 30-30 with 3:05 remaining in the half. Another jumper with 2:26 remaining gave Ole Miss the lead at 32-30, but Memphis freshman Paris Leonard answered back with a three to put Memphis back in front 33-32.
But then the Lady Tigers, who were playing with just an eight player rotation, seemed to hit a wall, where tired legs and foul trouble led to three straight Memphis fouls. Ole Miss converted the three fouls to six points at the free-throw line, and took a 38-35 lead into the locker room.
Memphis came out of the break and quickly cut the Ole Miss lead to one off an Ashley Howard layup, but could not get in front of the Lady Rebels until Leonard hit a jumper with 16:19 remaining to put Memphis up, 43-42.
Seven lead changes later, Ashley Johnson hit one of her two three-point field goals to put Ole Miss up, 63-60, with 6:38 remaining in the game. The lead never grew to more than five until Price hit a lay-up with 31 seconds remaining. In that six-minute stretch, Memphis would go 8-for-10 from the free-throw line and would be out-rebounded 10-5, allowing Ole Miss to prevail 87-81, as the clock wound out.
Price led Ole Miss with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Johnson would add 18 points, including two big threes, while Ashley Awkward and Carla Bartee would each finish with 10 points.
Leonard led Memphis with 25 points, while Tamika Butler would finish with 22 points and a career-high 12 assists. Devin Necaise would add 19 points in the loss. With her two three-point field goals in the first half, Butler became just the fourth Lady Tiger in Memphis history to sink over 100 career three-point field goals. She joins LaTonya Johnson, Kitty Allen and Kelly Herron in the century club.
Memphis will travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face Oklahoma State, Monday, in the final non-conference tilt before the team breaks for the holidays. The Lady Tigers return home to face nationally-ranked Georgia in the FedExForum, Dec. 29th.
Ole Miss hosts Nicholls State on Sunday.
