The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Fall To Rutgers 89-84 In Triple Overtime
12/12/2006 | Women's Basketball
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- The Ole Miss women's basketball team was unable to counter five points by Rashidat Junaid and three free throws by Epiphanny Prince in the third and final overtime period as Rutgers (4-4) defeated Ole Miss (7-3) 89-84 in three overtimes on Tuesday evening at the Louis Brown Athletic Center
After trailing by 20 points four minutes in to the second period of play, Ole Miss used a 23-3 run to close the gap and an Ashley Awkward three-point basket with time running out forced the game into overtime. Both teams tallied 10 points in the first extra period and Alliesha Easley drilled a three-point basket with eight seconds remaining in the second overtime to force a third overtime. Prince made three of four foul shots in the final minutes of the third extra period to give the Scarlet Knights the victory.
Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price led Ole Miss with 33 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and three steals. Awkward and sophomore center Shawn Goff each finished the game with 13 points, while Easley added 12. Senior forward Jada Mincy pulled down 14 rebounds and she and Goff both had three blocks.
"I could not be more proud of my team," said Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross. "They are ecstatic in their locker room after pulling out this win and we are still able to feel good knowing that we did not lose, we just did not win. I am so proud of the effort from my players. They really showed their character."
In a low scoring first half, the two teams traded baskets for the first eight minutes of the game before Rutgers opened a four-point lead on a lay-up by Junaid taking a 12-8 advantage with 11:37 left in the opening frame.
The two teams again went back to trading baskets before the Scarlet Knights opened up a 10-point lead after getting six points from Brittany Ray and two free throws by Myia McCurdy.
Ole Miss cut into the lead, trimming back down to four points with two Carla Bartee free throws with 3:55 left in the first half. The free throws would be the final points of the half for the Rebels as Rutgers scored the last seven points of the half to take a 33-22 lead into intermission.
The Rebels were able to stay with Rutgers thanks to 14 first half tallies for Price. Price scored 14-straight points for Ole Miss making 4-of-7 shots from the field and all six of her foul shots in the first period.
The scoring drought for the Rebels continued for the opening four minutes of the second half. Rutgers scored the first nine points of the second period and took a 20-point lead at 42-22 with just under 16 minutes remaining.
Ole Miss then went to work. The Rebels scored 12 consecutive points trimming the lead to eight points on a Price lay-up. With two Shawn Goff free throws, the lead was trimmed to three at 48-45 with 9:29 left in the game. An Easley lay-up closed it to one point, but the Scarlet Knights pushed the lead back to six points on a field goal by Matee Ajavon with 5:34 remaining. Ajavon, an All-America candidate, was held to just four points, off of 1-of-10 shooting from the field and also committed eight turnovers.
Trailing by seven points with just under a minute remaining, Price hit a triple and Goff connected on two foul shots to give the Rebels a chance to force an extra period. Awkward then hit a three with just four seconds left to send the game into extra periods.
Ole Miss will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 17 when they play host to Central Arkansas. Game time is slated for 2 p.m. in Tad Smith Coliseum
