Rebels Tame Lady Lions 65-48 In Defensive Effort

OXFORD, Miss. Ole Miss (7-2) opened the game on a 27-4 run behind a stellar defensive performance and was able to keep Penn State (6-6) from getting within 10 points the rest of the way as the Rebels won back-to-back games over Big Ten opponents with their 65-48 win in Tad Smith Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.

“When we play aggressive on the defensive end we are able to make a lot of good things happen,” said Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross who was honored in pre-game festivities by the state of Mississippi House of Representatives and Senate. “We came out and set a great tone on the defensive end. That allowed us to get some good shots and open up an early lead.”

Ole Miss got out of the gates, scoring the first 12 points of the game. Senior guard Ashley Awkward scored six, while senior guard Armintie Price, junior forward Danetra Forrest and freshman guard Alliesha Easley each added two points. The Lady Lions got on the board at the 14:51 mark on a lay-up by Adrienne Squire, after missing two shots and committing seven turnovers.

The Rebels scored another 10 points before Penn State made its next bucket over four minutes later and opened up their largest lead of the game at 27-4 with a jumper by Easley. Squire helped the Lady Lions close the gap with two three-point baskets down the stretch of the first half as Ole Miss took a 35-18 lead into the break.

The Lady Lions took control early in the second half, cutting the lead to 10 points five minutes into the second frame at 39-29. The two teams traded baskets over the next eight minutes with Penn State again trimming the lead to 10 at the 7:27 mark. Ole Miss then turned up the defensive pressure again pushing the lead back out 19 on a Price offensive put-back with 5:17 left in the contest.

Ole Miss was able to maintain the lead down the stretch by controlling the backboards and not allowing the Lady Lions to get many good looks at the basket.

Easley led all scorers with 15 points on the afternoon. She was joined in double figures by Awkward who had 12 points. Price finished the game narrowly missing a second consecutive triple double with eight points, eight rebounds and a career-best eight assists.

Senior forward Jada Mincy pulled down a personal-best 15 rebounds, including 11 in the first half. Mincy also collected a team-high four steals.

Squire finished the game with 13 points for Penn State, while Tyra Grant had 11. Courtney Molinaro had seven rebounds and Brianne O’Rourke had seven assists for the Lady Lions.

Ole Miss shot 42.0 percent from the field, making 29-of-69. The Rebels made 3-of-18 from beyond the arc and 4-of-8 from the charity stripe. Ole Miss won the battle of the boards 46-37.

Penn State was held to 36.4 percent shooting, connecting on 20-of-55 shots from the field. The Lady Lions made 3-of-12 from the three-point line and 5-of-13 free throws.

Ole Miss will hit the road to take on No. 21 Rutgers on Tuesday evening. Game time is slated for 6:30 p.m. (CST).

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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