The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Welcomes Arkansas For SEC Opener
12/30/2016 | Women's Basketball
Game Notes- vs. Arkansas - Game 14
Ole Miss opens up SEC play on Sunday when the Arkansas Razorbacks make the trip to Oxford. Tipoff is set for 4 pm CT from The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The game will also be televised nationally on the SEC Network. Tickets are available and can be purchased at the Ole Miss Ticket office or online HERE.
Game 14: Ole Miss (11-2) vs. Arkansas (11-2)
Date: January 1, 2017
Time: 4:00 PM CT
Location: Oxford, Miss. (The Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Television: SECN+ Link
Livestats:
Starting Five
1. Ole Miss made it 10 straight at The Pavilion with a 67-30 win over Mississippi Valley to close the non-conference slate on Wednesday. Shelby Gibson posted a career-best 16 points off the bench to lead the offense while Taylor Manuel had a season-best eight rebounds as the Rebels picked up their fifth consecutive win.
2. Sundays' game is the SEC opener for both teams. Ole Miss is 2-1 in SEC openers in the Insell era and is 8-2 in SEC openers over the last 10 seasons. The Rebels will be opening the SEC slate at home for the fourth consecutive season and are looking for their third straight SEC opening win, which includes a win over Arkansas in 2014-15.
3. Shelby Gibson posted a career-best 16 points and seven rebounds off the bench in Ole Miss' win over Mississippi Valley. It was her fifth career game in double figures and first time leading the Rebels in scoring. Gibson is averaging 8.1 points per game and is Ole Miss top scoring freshman.
4. Taylor Manuel posted five blocked shots against Mississippi Valley State. Her five blocks were the most since 2014-15 when Tia Faleru had five in against Baylor. The five blocks where just one shy of Manuel's career best of six set against Indiana State in 2014-15.
5. Ole Miss and Arkansas are meeting for the 42nd time with Ole Miss leading the all-time series, 25-16. The Razorbacks have won the last two meetings between the teams but Ole Miss leads holds a 14-3 advantage in games played in Oxford. The last time the teams meet in an SEC opener was in 2014-15 with Ole Miss winning, 71-57.
Ole Miss vs. Arkansas Notables
-This will be the 42nd meeting between the teams with Ole Miss leading the all-time series, 25-16. The Razorbacks have won the last two meetings, but the series in deadlocked at 2-2 in the last four meetings.
-The teams have one common opponent in La.- Monroe. The Razorbacks defeated ULM, 92-46 on Nov. 13 and Ole Miss defeated the Warhawks, 97-40 on Dec. 10.
A Win Would
-Give Ole Miss its 11th straight home win, which would equal the best home start since 2006-07 when Ole Miss also opened the home slate at 11-0.
- Be Ole Miss' sixth straight win, which is the longest streak of the season and will put Ole Miss one win away from the longest win streak in the Insell era, which is seven games set in 2014-15.
-Be Ole Miss' third consecutive SEC-opening win, marking the first time since winning openers in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Rebels By The Numbers
1-Ranking of the Ole Miss women's basketball team nationally in 3-PT FG percentage defense. Ole Miss is allowing opponents to shoot just .208 percent from long range.
3- Number of defensive categories Ole Miss is ranked in the top 10 nationally. Categories are: 3-PT FG% Defense (.208-1st), Scoring Defense (49.2- 3rd) and FG Percentage Defense (.319-10th)
8- Number of points Mississippi Valley State scored in the second half in Ole Miss' last outing. It's the fewest points Ole Miss has allowed in a half in program history.
10-Number of assists Erika Sisk dished out against VCU. Her 10 assists were the most for an Ole Miss player since 2014 when Valencia McFarland had 10 against Georgia. Sisk is one of three players in the SEC to record double-figure assists this season.
16-Number of points Shelby Gibson scored against Mississippi Valley State. It was her fifth game in double figures and a career-best for the Murfreesboro, Tenn., native. Gibson is Ole Miss top scoring freshman at 8.1 ppg.
Scouting Arkansas
Arkansas enters Sunday's opener with an 11-2 record after defeating Houston Baptist. Jessica Jackson leads a pair of players in double figures with 18.1 points per game. Malica Monk is also in double figures with 10.2 points per game. Jackson also leads the rebounding efforts with 6.8 rebounds per game. As a team, the Razorbacks are averaging 73.2 points per game and 41.8 rebounds per game. The Razorbacks opened the season with nine straight wins before a 64-62 loss at Missouri State on Dec. 11. Arkansas in 1-1 in true road contests and 2-0 in neutral site games this season.
About Ole Miss
Ole Miss enters Sunday's game with a 11-2 record after a 67-30 win over Mississippi Valley State. The win was Ole Miss' 10th straight win at home this season and its fifth consecutive win. Madinah Muhammad and Shandricka Sessom continue to lead Ole Miss from the floor. Muhammad is averaging 14.1 ppg, while Sessom is adding 12.8 ppg. Erika Sisk and Chrishae Rower are also in double figures contributing 10.5 and 10.3 points per game, respectively. A trio of players leads Ole Miss on the glass. Shequila Joseph's 5.4 boards per game leads the way, while Sessom isn't far behind with 5.1 rebounds per game. Sessom has posted two double-doubles on the season, most recently recording 18 points and 10 rebounds against Jackson State. Bretta Hart also recorded her second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Shelby Gibson is Ole Miss' top scoring freshman with 8.1 points per game, including a career-best 16 points in her last outing, which is among the top 10 scoring freshman in the SEC. Madinah Muhammad became the first Rebel to score 20+ in back-to-back games with 22 vs. Wisconsin and 24 against UNLV and on the season has three 20-point games after a team-best 21 points vs. La-Monroe - the most 20-point outings for a Rebel this season.
Up Next
The Rebels will open a two-game swing through Alabama when it travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide on Thursday (Jan 5). Game time is set for 7 pm CT from Coleman Coliseum.
