The University of Mississippi Athletics
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE: Thompson, Newcomers Impress in Debut
11/7/2014 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2014
By Austin Miller, OleMissSports
OXFORD, Miss. - The youth movement was on display Friday, as the new-look backcourt of freshman Toree Thompson and sophomore Erika Sisk helped lead Ole Miss to a 111-43 exhibition win over Christian Brothers.
The Rebels eclipsed the century mark for the first time under second-year head coach Matt Insell behind 56.2 percent (41-of-73) shooting from the floor and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) shooting from 3-point range. Defensively, Ole Miss forced 24 Christian Brothers turnovers, turning them into 33 points.
"We have a long way to go before we get to where have to get to," Insell said. "This is a really good step for us as we continue to grow as a team. I asked them to play with a lot of focus for 40 minutes, and I felt like we did that. Coming out and taking control from the tip, that's what we have to do with our pressure defense and we looked more like how I want us to look defensively tonight."
Thompson and Sisk, a Murray State transfer, were joined in the starting lineup by a third newcomer, freshman Shandricka Sessom. All 13 Ole Miss players appeared and scored in the game, including six freshmen and seven newcomers.
"I told the staff I felt like we were getting to play Tennessee this morning with the way my stomach felt because I didn't know what to expect," Insell said. "I know we have some really talented players like Toree Thompson, but I didn't know how they were going to react in their first college game."
The Rebels set the tone early, scoring the first 16 points of the game and holding the Lady Bucs scoreless for the first 4:27 of the game. Thompson and Sisk reached double-digits points in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers each and leading the Rebels to a 51-25 halftime lead.
Thompson finished one assist shy of a double-double, scoring 25 points and dishing out nine assists. She had a near-perfect shooting night, going 8-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-5 from 3-point range.
"I have watched her play for going on a year and a half," Insell said. "She's a very talented player. She continues to work every day. The success she had tonight was well-deserved. She worked really hard for that success and I was really proud of her."
Sisk was second on the team with 13 points, going 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Senior forward Tia Faleru, a preseason second team All-SEC selection, and freshman forward Kelsey Briggs joined them in doubles figures with 12 points each.
"We have a lot of talent," Insell said. "Those young girls are very talented. We have to keep pushing them every day. The sky is the limit for them. They're not even close to tapping how good they're going to be. They have to keep working every single day and celebrate the positives and working on the negatives."
The Rebels open the 2014-15 regular season on Nov. 14 as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. The women will host Grambling in the annual School Kids Game at 11 a.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum, while the men will play Charleston Southern at 6 p.m.
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller.
OXFORD, Miss. - The youth movement was on display Friday, as the new-look backcourt of freshman Toree Thompson and sophomore Erika Sisk helped lead Ole Miss to a 111-43 exhibition win over Christian Brothers.
The Rebels eclipsed the century mark for the first time under second-year head coach Matt Insell behind 56.2 percent (41-of-73) shooting from the floor and 66.7 percent (14-of-21) shooting from 3-point range. Defensively, Ole Miss forced 24 Christian Brothers turnovers, turning them into 33 points.
"We have a long way to go before we get to where have to get to," Insell said. "This is a really good step for us as we continue to grow as a team. I asked them to play with a lot of focus for 40 minutes, and I felt like we did that. Coming out and taking control from the tip, that's what we have to do with our pressure defense and we looked more like how I want us to look defensively tonight."
Thompson and Sisk, a Murray State transfer, were joined in the starting lineup by a third newcomer, freshman Shandricka Sessom. All 13 Ole Miss players appeared and scored in the game, including six freshmen and seven newcomers.
"I told the staff I felt like we were getting to play Tennessee this morning with the way my stomach felt because I didn't know what to expect," Insell said. "I know we have some really talented players like Toree Thompson, but I didn't know how they were going to react in their first college game."
The Rebels set the tone early, scoring the first 16 points of the game and holding the Lady Bucs scoreless for the first 4:27 of the game. Thompson and Sisk reached double-digits points in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers each and leading the Rebels to a 51-25 halftime lead.
Thompson finished one assist shy of a double-double, scoring 25 points and dishing out nine assists. She had a near-perfect shooting night, going 8-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-5 from 3-point range.
"I have watched her play for going on a year and a half," Insell said. "She's a very talented player. She continues to work every day. The success she had tonight was well-deserved. She worked really hard for that success and I was really proud of her."
Sisk was second on the team with 13 points, going 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Senior forward Tia Faleru, a preseason second team All-SEC selection, and freshman forward Kelsey Briggs joined them in doubles figures with 12 points each.
"We have a lot of talent," Insell said. "Those young girls are very talented. We have to keep pushing them every day. The sky is the limit for them. They're not even close to tapping how good they're going to be. They have to keep working every single day and celebrate the positives and working on the negatives."
The Rebels open the 2014-15 regular season on Nov. 14 as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. The women will host Grambling in the annual School Kids Game at 11 a.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum, while the men will play Charleston Southern at 6 p.m.
Austin Miller is a writer and blogger for OleMissSports.com. He joined the staff in June 2013 after serving as sports editor of the Daily Mississippian. Follow him on Twitter @austinkmiller.
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