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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
8-6, 1-1SEC
Tennessee (W)
15-2, 3-0SEC
Ole Miss Falls At No. 5/6 Tennessee
1/9/2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2011
Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery 
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Ole Miss women's basketball team fell to No. 5/6 Tennessee 86-46 here Sunday at Thompson Boling Arena.
With the loss, Ole Miss fell to 8-6 overall (1-1 SEC) while Tennessee improved to 15-2 overall (3-0 SEC).
Valencia McFarland gave Ole Miss an early 3-0 lead on three free throws, but the Rebels opened the game 0-of-8 from the field until Shae Nelson's jumper with 14:23 remaining brought Ole Miss to within three, 8-5.
The Lady Vols used a 15-2 run to go ahead 31-14 with 4:11 left in the first half.
Tennessee led Ole Miss 42-22 at the half. Freshmen accounted for all of Ole Miss' scoring in the first half with McFarland scoring 13 points, Nelson with seven and Pa'Sonna Hope with two.
The Rebels were outrebounded 27-12 in the first half. Ole Miss shot 26.7 percent (8-of-29) from the floor while Tennessee shot 50.0 percent (18-of-36).
Tennessee increased its lead to 28, 56-27, with 15:01 left in the game.
McFarland ended the game with 16 points and tied her career-high with six made free throws. Kayla Melson ended the game with 11 points, all in the second half, while Nelson added 10.
The Lady Vols outrebounded the Rebels 53-31.
"I didn't think we had great effort in the second half," head coach Renee Ladner said. "Tennessee's physicality beat on us, and they took the dribble away from Kayla on the offensive side. But I was proud we only had 12 turnovers - that was one of our goals from the game, 12 turnovers or less."
Ole Miss will play at Auburn on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT before returning home to host South Carolina on Sunday, January 16 at 2 p.m.
