The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Women Host Alabama Sunday Afternoon
2/10/2007 | Women's Basketball
Today's Game
Ole Miss will try to get back in the win column when they play host to Alabama on Sunday afternoon in Tad Smith Coliseum ... Ole Miss owns the all-time series with the Crimson tide 26-16, and has won the last three games in the series ... Ole Miss is 12-6 versus the Tide in Oxford, including a 68-54 win the last time the two teams played in the Tad Pad ... The Rebels are 11-2 at home this season, but have dropped their last two games in Tad Smith Coliseum ... Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross is 3-1 versus Alabama as the leader of the Rebels ... Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price is the current SEC Player of the Week ... Price needs just 39 points to reach the 2,000 mark for her career.
About Ole Miss
Ole Miss is 18-7 overall with a 7-3 mark in SEC play after falling to Kentucky, 69-61, at home on Thursday evening... Senior guard Ashley Awkward has posted double figures in each of the last 10 games, including a 22 point effort in the loss to Kentucky ... Awkward, who averages 12.1 points per game on the season, has upped her average to 17.1 tallies per game during SEC play ... Senior guard Armintie Price leads the team with 18.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.7 steals per game ... Price has 12 double-doubles on the season and 54 in her Ole Miss career entering Sunday's contest ... Price was named SEC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season and ninth time in her career on Monday ... The nine honors are the most-ever by a single player in SEC history ... She was also named to the John R. Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 list this week.
Scouting Alabama
The Crimson Tide enter Sunday's game with a 10-15 overall mark, including an 0-10 ledger in SEC play.
The Tide have seven freshmen on the roster, including three in the starting line-up. They are led on the season by senior Navonda Moore with 13.8 points per game. Fellow senior Kate Mastin drops in 13.0 tallies per game, while freshman Talisha Chandler leads the team with 6.4 board a game. Chandler also pours in 7.2 points a game.
Alabama averages 23.3 turnovers per game, while Ole Miss leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the NCAA in steals with 13.3 per game.
Alabama head coach Stephany Smith is 19-34 in her second season with the Crimson Tide. Her overall coaching mark is 177-122 in her 10th season in the business.
Ross Versus Alabama
Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross owns a 14-8 mark against Alabama as a coach, including an 3-1 record since becoming the head coach at Ole Miss. As a player at Ole Miss, Ross went 4-0 versus the Crimson Tide while wearing the Red and Blue.
The Series
Today's game will be the 43rd meeting between Ole Miss and Alabama, with the Rebels leading the series 26-16. The Rebels are 12-6 versus Alabama in Oxford. The following is the series history:
Ole Miss-Alabama Ties
Ole Miss has two players on the roster who are natives of the state of Alabama in freshmen guard Elizabeth Robertson of Vestavia and center Daphnee Frieson of Mobile. Alabama has two players from the state of Mississippi in senior Navonda Moore of Jackson and freshman Dedrea Magee of Picayune.
Alabama head coach Stephany Smith is a native of the Magnolia state as she hails from Brookhaven. Smith is the daughter of Ole Miss Athletics Hall of Fame member Ralph "Catfish" Smith, who earned Second Team All-SEC honors as a member of the Ole Miss football team.
Ole Miss signed one player in the November signing period from the state of Alabama in Kayla Melson of Montgomery. Melson will join the Rebels in the fall of 2007.
Alabama graduate assistant coach Ashley Earley is a graduate of Briarcrest High School in Memphis, the alma mater of Ole Miss players Jada Mincy and Alliesha Easley. All three players played at Briarcrest under Hugh Freeze, who is now an assistant coach with the Rebel football program.
Mint Condition
Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price is on pace to become just the fifth player in NCAA history to post 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 300 steals and 300 assists in a career. Price enters today's game with 1,961 points, 1,118 rebounds, 364 steals and 368 assists through her first 116 games. The four players in the club are Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Sophia Young.
Anointing With Their Voices
A trio of Rebel basketball players formed a singing group two years ago and has been performing ever since. Senior Armintie Price and juniors Danetra Forrest and Carla Bartee formed the group The Anointed Voices, a primarily gospel singing group nearly two years ago. The trio has performed several times locally and was invited to be the featured entertainment at the 2006 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet. The Anointed Voices performed in place of an opening prayer to a large round of applause. They are scheduled to sing the national anthem at a home game.
Ashley--Not So--Awkward
Ole Miss senior guard Ashley Awkward has thrived for the Rebel offense since opening Southeastern Conference play. Awkward has posted double figures in all 10 games, averaging 17.1 points over the span, which ranks third in the conference in SEC games only. She has led Ole Miss in scoring in four of the last six games, including a 23-point performance in last Sunday's win at Arkansas.
Round And Round She Goes
Rebel senior guard Armintie Price is not only one of the most well-rounded players in the SEC, but in the NCAA. Price is one of two players to lead her team in all four major statistical categories, joining Evansville's Rebekah Parker. Price is the Ole Miss leader in scoring (18.6), rebounding (9.2), assists (4.6) and steals (3.7). She ranks in the top five in the SEC in each of those four categories and is the only player in the conference to do so. She also ranks in the top 60 in the NCAA in all four categories, including ranking No. 3 in steals.
Working Overtime
The Rebels may not be the most talented team in the Southeastern Conference, but they are one of the hardest working teams. They are a hard-working team that doesn't mind working overtime. The Rebels have played in eight overtime periods this season, including a triple overtime outing and two double-overtime games. Ole Miss has won two extra sessions, lost two and tied in four. Ole Miss is 2-2 in games decided in extra periods, but have won two-straight.
Rebels Starting At The Top
Facing a brutal schedule to open conference play, Ole Miss has managed to put together its best mark after 10 games since going undefeated in SEC play during the 1991-92 season. The Rebels have picked up road wins at Auburn, Kentucky, Florida and Arkansas and home victories over #10/11 Vanderbilt, #5/6 LSU and South Carolina against just three losses.
Rebels Add LaKendra Phillips
The Ole Miss women's basketball team added depth to an already promising backcourt announcing on Jan. 18 that LaKendra Phillips of Florida has transferred to join the Rebels. Phillips, who must sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules, will be eligible for competition following the completion of the Fall 2007 semester.
Phillips, a 5-9 guard, played in 12 games for the Gators before leaving at the end of the semester. She averaged 3.5 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, while logging nine minutes per outing. She notched a career-best 10 points versus North Florida, connecting on 3-of-4 shots from the field in the win. She pulled down a career-best four rebounds against South Alabama. Prior to her semester with the Gators, Phillips earned four letters at Ridgeway High School in Memphis where she was coached for three years by Lisa Moore and one year by Tonya Currie. During her four-year career with the Roadrunners, Phillips tallied 2,222 points, 1,355 rebounds, 242 steals and 184 assists while shooting a steady 75.5 percent from the free throw line. She was named 2006 Class AAA Tennessee Miss Basketball, presented by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), helping Ridgeway to a 35-3 record and the state quarterfinals as a senior. Phillips was named to the 'Class AAA Best of the Preps' in 2005 and 2006 by the Commercial Appeal. She also picked up 2006 TSWA AAA State first team honors, 2006 TSSAA District 15 AAA Player of the Year, All District and All-Regionals MVP during her time at Ridgeway.
Triple A' At Your Service
The Ole Miss guard trio of Ashley (Awkward), Alliesha (Easley) and Armintie (Price) have provided the Rebels will a steady dose on the offensive end of the court. The trio are the top three scorers for the Rebels and keep opponents on their toes with their balanced attack. Over the last nine games, each one of the three has taken their turn leading the Rebels in scoring.
Easley Heats Up
Ole Miss freshman guard Alliesha Easley is making her presence felt on the court. Easley, who has started all 25 contests for the Rebels, turned in a career-best 25 points in Ole Miss' 75-50 win over Illinois. She connected on 12-of-16 shots from the field, good for 75 percent. Easley also scored 24 points in a double-overtime loss to Rice and has scored in double figures in 17-of-25 games this season. She ranks third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game and is the leading freshman scorer in SEC play with 13.3 points per game.
Making A Mess
The Rebel defense has had a penchant for forcing their opponents to turn the ball over. While only turning the ball over 391 times themselves, Ole Miss has forced their opponents into 595 turnovers on the season, for an average of 23.8 blunders per game by their opponents. Ole Miss' tunover margin of +8.2 is the highest in the SEC.
Rebel's Sweep Weekly Awards
Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price and freshman guard Alliesha Easley swept the SEC weekly awards on Jan. 15, with Price being tabbed SEC Player of the Week and Easley getting the nod for SEC Freshman of the Week. Price earned the honor for the second-straight week and the third time this season after leading Ole Miss to wins over #5/6 LSU and at Kentucky. She averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 3.5 steals over the two-game stretch, including a 15-point, 11-rebounds effort in an overtime win over the Wildcats. She posted her sixth double-double of the season and 48th of her career in the victory. Easley picked up the honor for the second time this season after leading Ole Miss with 19 points and three boards in the win over the Lady Tigers. The 77-74 win marked the Rebels' first win over a top five team since knocking off No. 3 Tennessee on Feb. 4, 1996. The Cordova, Tenn., native also scored 12 points and had three rebounds in the win over Kentucky, including 10 in the first half.
Awkward Takes Care Of Business
Rebel senior guard Ashley Awkward had a standout game in Ole Miss' 76-57 win over South Carolina. The 5-6 Memphis native tallied 22 points, just one shy of her career high, after making 4-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. Her four made treys were also a career best. Awkward also hit all four of her foul shots and canned a first-half buzzer beater from long range in the game's most exciting play. Awkward has scored in double figures in the last 10 games, including averaging 20.2 tallies over the last five outings.
Back In Black
Rebel freshman guard Shantell Black has found her way into the Ole Miss line-up by playing suffocating defense. Black, who head coach Carol Ross refers to as a water bug', has made her presence felt by harrassing opposing point guards and making it difficult for them to run their respective offensive sets. Black has been credited for 33 steals on the season, but she has been instrumental in forcing many others.
Thomas Tosses It In
Rebel freshman guard Bianca Thomas found her stroke in Ole Miss' win over Nicholls State in their last outing. Thomas turned in a season's best 18 points, while knocking down 5-of-7 shots from beyond the arc. She also tied her career high with four boards. Thomas previously had made 3-of-5 from three-point land in the season-opener versus Southeastern Louisiana. Thomas came off the bench to put in two free throws in the Rebels' win over Kentucky, dropped in a three-point basket in the second half versus Georgia and hit a jumper at Florida in SEC play.
Putting Up The Points
The Rebels have been scoring at an alarming pace as they are averaging 78.8 points per game through the first 25 games of the season, which ranks fourth in the NCAA. Ole Miss finally topped the century mark with their 104-63 win over Central Arkansas. The Rebels have also managed to score in the 90s in five games, including a 99-point performance at UAB and versus Fordham. Three players are averaging double figures with senior guard Armintie Price leading the way with 18.6 points per game. She is joined by senior guard Ashley Awkward with 12.1 points per outing and freshman guard Alliesha Easley who adds 11.6 per game.
Price Named To DoubleTree Classic All-Tournament Team
Rebel senior guard Armintie Price was honored as a member of the DoubleTree Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals per game over the two-game tourney. The All-Tournament Team honors are the eighth of Price's career and the first this season.
Rebounding Rebels
Despite a slow start, Ole Miss eventually out-rebounded Rice 62-58 in their double-overtime loss to the Owls. The 62 rebounds were the most collected by an Ole Miss team since they pulled down 69 versus Grambling State on Dec. 16, 2004. Three Rebels rank in the top 15 in the SEC in rebouding, while five Rebels have posted double figures in rebounds this season. Sophomore Shawn Goff picked up a career-best 19 versus Rice and 12 in the opener versus Southeastern Louisiana. Senior guard Armintie Price pulled down 15 caroms in Ole Miss' win over Illinois, and senior forward Jada Mincy grabbed 15 versus Penn State. Junior Danetra Forrest tallied 13 at UAB and sophomore forward Brandi Tipton pulled down 10 versus Nicholls State. Ole Miss is averaging an SEC best 45.6 rebounds per game through 25 games.
Mincy Makes Her Mark
Ole Miss senior forward Jada Mincy has been all over the boards as she ranks second on the team averaging 7.6 caroms per contest. Mincy has posted double digits in rebounding in nine games this season. She pulled down a career-best 15 rebounds in Ole Miss' win over Florida, including eight on the offensive end. Mincy's 7.6 boards are seventh best in the SEC.
Price On Watch Lists
Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price is being recognized by nearly all of the national awards as they open their watch lists for the 2006-07 season. Price has been named to the Naismith Award Preseason list, Senior CLASS Award, Wade Watch as well as the Wooden Award Preseason list. The 5-9 guard was also recognized by ESPN.com as one of the top five two guards in the NCAA and was selected by GBallMag.com as a preseason Second Team All-America. Price was unanimously voted to the preseason First Team All-SEC by the league coaches and was also selected for the same team a panel of media at the 2006 SEC Media Days. She was also honored as a preseason All-America and First Team All-SEC by Basketball Times.
Goff Named To Junkanoo Jam Team
Rebel sophomore center Shawn Goff picked up all-tournament honors for the first time in her Ole Miss career at the 2006 Junkanoo Jam after leading the Rebels with 26 points, 20 rebounds, five steals and four blocks in the two-game tournament.
Masters of Thievery
In Ole Miss' first 25 games the Rebels have picked up 333 steals with all 14 players recording at least three steals. The Rebels rank fifth in the NCAA with 13.3 steals per game. Senior Armintie Price leads the way with 92 pilfers, which ranks her third in the NCAA. Price posted 12 steals in Ole Miss' win over Illinois, the top performance in the NCAA this season. Senior Ashley Awkward has picked up 45 steals and tied her career-high with six at UAB. Sophomore Shawn Goff, senior Jada Mincy, and freshmen Shantell Black and Alliesha Easley, are also at 30+ with 37, 34, 33 and 33 steals, respectively.
Bartee From The Bench
Rebel junior guard-forward Carla Bartee has become a reliable sixth woman Ole Miss can count on. Bartee, who averages 13.1 minutes per game is averaging 5.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She scored a seasons best 12 points in the Rebels win over #5/6 LSU, while also collecting five rebounds and two steals. The 6-1 Waynesboro native can play in the post or on the perimeter for the Rebels.
Goff Fills It Up
Rebel sophomore center Shawn Goff came off the bench to post 18 points and 19 rebounds in Ole Miss' double overtime loss to Rice. Goff, who played a career-best 41 minutes, posted 13 of her rebounds and 12 of her points in the second half and overtime periods. She was instrumental in helping the Rebels erase a 12-point second half deficit and force the Owls into the exteded periods of play. She also finished with three steals, two assists and a block in the game.
Double Dee
Ole Miss junior forward Danetra Forrest was instrumental in Ole Miss' victory over UAB, recording her third career double-double with 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Forrest scored 10 of her points in the second period helping gain the Rebels some much needed breathing room down the stretch of their win over the Blazers. She kept Ole Miss in the game in the first period with nine of her 13 boards.
Impressive Outside The SEC
The Rebels have compiled an impressive record outside the Southeastern Conference in regular-season play. Ole Miss owns a 192-50 record (.793 winning percentage) versus non-conference opponents since 1990. The Rebels' best non-conference record during that time came during the 1991-92 SEC Championship season, as they compiled a 15-1 mark versus non-conference foes. Ole Miss posted a 10-3 record against non-conference opponents during the 2005-06 regular season.
Easley Gets The Nod
Ole Miss freshman Alliesha Easley got her name called among the starters in the Rebels' season opener versus Southeastern Louisiana. Easley was the first Ole Miss true freshman to start the season since Armintie Price started her game in the 2003-04 season-opener. Easley and Price are the only two freshmen to start at Ole Miss under head coach Carol Ross.
Fab Five
Five fabulous freshmen joined the Rebel program for the 2006-07 season, with each having gained championship experience at the high school level before heading off to Ole Miss. Shantell Black (Lawrenceville, Ga.), Alliesha Easley (Cordova, Tenn.), Daphnee Frieson (Mobile, Ala.), Elizabeth Robertson (Vestavia, Ala.) and Bianca Thomas (Henderson, Tenn.) each joined the Rebels in July and are prepared to make an impact as Ole Miss makes a run at its fourth-straight postseason appearance.
Price Featured On ESPN.com
Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price is currently featured on www.ESPN.com on the women's college basketball page. Price is listed as one of the top five two-guards in the NCAA as noted by the website's women's college basketball analysts.
Mechelle Voepel, Nancy Lieberman, Beth Mowins and Melanie Jackson compiled a list of the top five players at each position, ranking Price the top player at the two-guard spot. She is joined on the list by junior Matee Ajavon (Rutgers), junior Candice Wiggins (Stanford), senior Shay Doron (Maryland) and senior Cori Chambers (Georgia).
Up Next
The Rebels will hit the road for a pair of games at #3/3 Tennessee and Mississippi State next week. Ole Miss will travel to Knoxville on Thursday, Feb. 15 before heading to Starkville on Sunday, Feb. 18.
