The University of Mississippi Athletics
Graduate Transfer Taylor Manuel Joins Ole Miss Squad
5/4/2016 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. -The Ole Miss women's basketball team added graduate transfer Taylor Manuel to its roster for the 2016-17 season head coach Matt Insell announced on Wednesday. The 6-4 forward comes to Oxford after spending two years at Loyola Chicago and her freshman year at Purdue.
"What a great day for our program to be able to add a student athlete as talented as Taylor is to our roster as we prepare for next season," said Insell. "Taylor is one of the most talented forwards in the country and has shown she can play at a extremely high level against very good competition. She will make a immediate impact on our roster next season and I couldn't be happier to have her play her last year of eligibility as a Ole Miss Rebel."
Manuel, a two-time first-team All-MVC selection and the 2014-15 Missouri Valley Newcomer of the Year, led her team in scoring in 2015-16 with 15.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game, while also earning a spot on the Missouri Valley All-Defensive Team. She led the Ramblers in field goal percentage, shooting at a .565 clip, which ranked third in the MVC and 15th in the NCAA. She also finished the year as the team's leading shot blocker, racking up 49 rejections (1.7 bpg) and dished out an impressive 89 assists (3.1 apg), while setting a career-best with eight dimes in a win over then-No. 16 DePaul on Dec. 21. Manuel posted an impressive nine double-double performances, good enough for second overall in the Valley. Manuel also reached the 1,000-point mark in 2015-16 and enters the 2016-17 season with 1,078 career points.
As a redshirt sophomore, Manuel was named Newcomer of the Year three times and posted a career-best 36 points against Southern Illinois. During her first year with the Ramblers, she ranked near the top of the Valley charts in scoring (5th), rebounding (2nd), field goal percentage (.474, 6th) and blocked shots (2nd) while also recording eight double-doubles.
Manuel, a native of St. Louis, Mo., spent her freshman year at Purdue University where she was named to the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team in her one year as a Boilermaker in 2013. The forward played in all 34 games, averaging 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds, for a Purdue team that captured the Big Ten Tournament Championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before bowing out to eventual national runner-up, Louisville.
Manuel enjoyed a breakout year during her final high school season at Incarnate Word Academy in St. Louis, averaging 15.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.9 blocks en route to being named Miss Show-Me Basketball for the state of Missouri in 2012. She was also selected as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year, along with being named the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year. The highlight performance of her senior campaign came when she recorded her first-career quadruple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals.
The Rebels will next hit the hardwood in August when they travel to Costa Rica from Aug. 1-10. Ole Miss will play three exhibition games during its time south of the border.
For 2016-17 ticket information go to OleMissTix.com or call the Ole Miss Ticket Office at 1-888-REB-TKTS (732-8587). For all Ole Miss women's basketball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB and on Facebook at Ole Miss Women's Basketball. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell.
