The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels To Mississippi State In Search Of Win No. 20
2/17/2007 | Women's Basketball
Today's Game
The Rebels will continue on the road when they travel to in-state rival Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon ... Ole Miss leads the all-time series 57-14, including a 23-7 mark in Starkville ... The Bulldogs won this year's previous meeting, 73-71, on a buzzer beater by Marneshia Richard ... The game will feature two of the top freshmen in the SEC in MSU's Alexis Rack and Ole Miss' Alliesha Easley ... Rack leads all freshman scorers in SEC play with 12.7 points in league play, while Easley leads overall with 11.2 points in all games ... Ole Miss senior guard Armintie Price needs just seven points to eclipse the 2,000-point plateau in her career ... She needs just one point to take over sole possession of third place on the Ole Miss all-time chart.
About Ole Miss
Ole Miss is 19-8 overall with an 8-4 mark in SEC play after falling at #3/3 Tennessee on Thursday... The Rebels have forced 60 turnovers in the last two games ... On the season, the Rebels have forced 30 or more turnovers by their opponent on four occasions ... The Rebels lead the SEC and rank fourth in the nation in steals per game with 13.5 an outing ... Senior guard Armintie Price is the catalyst as she leads the NCAA with 3.7 thefts a game ... Price also leads the Rebels in scoring (18.4), rebounding (8.9) and assists (4.6) ... Senior guard Ashley Awkward ranks fourth in SEC games only in scoring with 16.4 points per game in league play ... She averages 12.2 tallies overall ... With 19 wins, the Rebels have tied their best win total in the Carol Ross era, as her 2004-05 Rebels also posted 19.
Scouting Mississippi State
The Bulldogs enter Sunday's match-up with a 16-10 overall record, including a 6-5 mark in conference play. MSU was defeated at home by Vanderbilt on Thursday evening. MSU has won six of their last eight games overall.
Junior Imesia Jackson leads the way for Mississippi State with 12.5 points per game. Freshman Alexis Rack is next with 9.8 points a game and led the Bulldogs with 18 points in the two teams previous meeting this season.
Freshman Bethany Washington leads the Bulldogs on the boards with 7.2 per game. Sophomore Marneshia Richard leads the team in both steals (2.4) and assists (3.5) per game. Richard hit the game-winner versus the Rebels in the MSU win in Oxford.
Mississippi State head coach Sharon Fanning is 192-157 in her 12th season with the Bulldogs. Her overall coaching mark is 515-383 in her 31st season in the business.
Ross Versus Mississippi State
Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross owns an 12-9 mark against Mississippi State as a coach, including a 4-3 record since becoming the head coach at Ole Miss. While at Florida, Ross posted an 8-6 mark against the Bulldogs.
As a player at Ole Miss, Ross lost only one game to the Bulldogs posting a 7-1 mark while wearing the Red and Blue.
The Series
Today's game will be the 72nd meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State, with the Rebels leading the series 57-14. The Rebels are 23-7 versus the Bulldogs in Starkville. The following is the series history:
Ole Miss-Mississippi State Ties
Ole Miss has five players from the Magnolia state on its roster in Carla Bartee (Waynesboro), Danetra Forrest (Louisville), Armintie Price (Myrtle), Lindsay Roy (Marks) and Tasi Worsham (Waynesboro), while MSU also has four Mississippi natives on its roster in Miayorka Johnson (Ripley), Imesia Jackson (Crawford), Amy Reeder (Pontotac) and Marneshia Richard (Lamar).
Ole Miss assistant coach Jocelyn McGilberry spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at MSU prior to joining the Ole Miss staff.
Gillom-Granderson Versus MSU
Rebel associate head coach Peggie Gillom-Granderson has compiled an amazing 44-3 record versus Mississippi State combined as a player, assistant coach and associate head coach. Gillom-Granderson went undefeated as a player earning nine wins during her four seasons. She then spent 15 seasons as an assistant under Van Chancellor posting an incredible 31-0 mark against the Lady Bulldogs. Now back at Ole Miss as an associate head coach, Gillom-Granderson has picked up four more wins and three losses.
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 1,993 points, 1,129 rebounds, 373 steals and 375 assists through her first 118 games. The four players in the club are Cheryl Miller, Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Sophia Young.
Grand Theft
Senior guard Armintie Price recently became the NCAA leader in steals per game at 3.7. Price has tallied 101 steals in 27 games so far this season and has ranked in the NCAA's top 10 in the category from the start of the season. She has been ranked as high as No. 3 in recent weeks and assumed the top spot on Monday. She had four steals versus Tennessee on Thursday.
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 12 games, averaging 16.4 points over the span, which ranks fourth in the conference in SEC games only. She has led Ole Miss in scoring in four of the last eight games, including a 23-point performance in a 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 (18.4), rebounding (8.9), 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. 1 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.
Price Takes Home SEC Honor
On Monday, Feb. 5, Armintie Price nabbed her fourth SEC Player of the Week honor of the season, marking her ninth overall selection for the award. The four honors this season ties Tennessee sophomore Candace Parker for the most honors this season, while the nine selections are the most by individual in the history of the SEC.
Rebels Starting At The Top
Facing a brutal schedule to open conference play, Ole Miss has managed to put together its best mark after 11 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, Alabama and South Carolina against just four 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 13 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 27 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 18-of-27 games this season. She ranks third on the team in scoring with 11.2 points per game and is the third leading freshman scorer in SEC play with 11.9 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 431 times themselves, Ole Miss has forced their opponents into 655 turnovers on the season, for an average of 24.3 blunders per game by their opponents. Ole Miss' tunover margin of +8.3 is the highest in the SEC. The Rebels have forced 60 turnovers in their last two games combined and have caused 30 or more by their opponents on four occasions this season.
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 11 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 36 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' last two games. Thomas turned in an SEC game career-best 17 points versus Alabama, while knocking down 7-of-11 shots, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Thomas was just one shy of her career high of 18 points she set versus Nicholls State in the Rebels final non-conference game. Thomas then had 10 points versus #3/3 Tennessee, while making 4-of-6 shots from the field, including 2-of-3 triples.
Putting Up The Points
The Rebels have been scoring at an alarming pace as they are averaging 78.6 points per game through the first 27 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 18.4 points per game, along with senior guard Ashley Awkward (12.2) and freshman guard Alliesha Easley (11.4.)
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 20 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 45.0 rebounds per game through 27 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 7.7 caroms per contest. Mincy has posted double digits in rebounding in 10 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 7.7 boards are eighth 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. Recently, she was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 List. Price has also been named to the Naismith Award Preseason list, Senior CLASS Award and the Wade Watch. 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 27 games the Rebels have picked up 365 steals with all 14 players recording at least three steals. The Rebels rank fourth in the NCAA with 13.5 steals per game. Senior Armintie Price leads the way with 101 pilfers, which ranks her first 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 52 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 40, 38, 36 and 36 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 5.5 points and 2.9 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. Bartee has also been critical in both of Ole Miss' overtime wins. She scored 10 points in the overtime period versus Kentucky and had eight points in the second overtime period versus Arkansas, leading the Rebels to wins in both games.
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 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.
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 have a break with a bye on Thursday evening followed by "Senior Day" celebration on Sunday, Feb. 26 with the final game of the regular season being played versus Auburn in Tad Smith Coliseum.
