The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels to Host Pink Game vs. Alabama
2/10/2018 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss women's basketball returns home for its annual Pink Game vs. Alabama on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT inside The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
PROMOTIONS
• Pink Game - Play 4 Kay; Tickled Pink (sponsored by Baptist Hospital)
• Pink game jerseys will be auctioned off in a silent auction at the main marketing table near the main entrance
• Brunch Game - 12:00-2:00, Courtside Club (tickets available at the door)
• Rebel Rewards Prize Pickup Game
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (11-13, 1-10 SEC)
Head Coach: Matt Insell • 5th Season at Ole Miss (69-81) • 69-81 career record (5th Season)
Alabama Crimson Tide (14-10, 4-7 SEC)
Head Coach: Kelly Curry • 5th Season at Alabama (78-75) • 387-224 career record (19th season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network + | Play-by-Play: Seth Austin; Color: Lindsay Roy
Radio: 105.1 / 105.5 FM | Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
Audio: RebelVision (OleMissSports.com)
SERIES NOTES (Ole Miss leads, 34-24)
At Oxford: Ole Miss leads 17-9
At Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads 14-11
At Neutral Sites: Ole Miss leads 6-1
Longest UM Streak: 8 (2004-2009)
Longest UA Streak: 5 (1997-2000)
Biggest UM Win: 41 (2/11/07 - at Oxford)
Biggest UA Win: 28 (1/5/97 - at Tuscaloosa)
Most UM Points: 100 (1/5/79 - at Starkville)
Most UA Points: 93 (1/12/14, 2/13/93; 1/11/82)
Last 10 Meetings: Alabama leads 7-3
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TEAM NOTES
BLOCK PARTY
Ole Miss has been a dominant force in shot blocking this season, thanks primarily to freshman center Promise Taylor. The Rebels rank 26th in the NCAA in blocks per game (5.1) and 23rd in total blocks (122) -- 71 of which come from Taylor, who ranks 11th in total blocks and 14th in blocks per game (3.0). No game was this more present than at No. 14 Texas A&M on Feb. 8, where the Rebels blocked 13 shots -- the most in a single-game in Ole Miss history and tied for the most by an SEC team this season. The Rebels have blocked at least five shots in 11 games this year and at least four in 17 contests.
Because of the surge in blocked shots, the Rebels -- at 5.1 blocks per game -- are currently on pace for 147 total blocks by season's end, potentially breaking the current single-season record of 129 set in 1982-83.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE: 32
The Rebels own the 32nd toughest strength of schedule in the NCAA, with past opposition holding a .593 winning percentage (308-211) and future opposition holding a 72-44 record (.621).
REBELS MAKING ALL-SEC PUSH
Rebel juniors Alissa Alston and Madinah Muhammad, as well as freshman Promise Taylor, have put together strong resumes for potential postseason honors.
#25 Alissa Alston • PG • Junior
• 15.3 PPG (15th SEC); 14.8 PPG in SEC play
• 4.3 Assists/Game (7th SEC)
• 1.4 Assist/Turnover Ratio (12th SEC)
• 35.1 Minutes/Game (3rd SEC)
• 16 double-digit games
• Five 20-point games; career-high 28 vs. Vanderbilt
• Has had at least four assists in 13 games
• Has scored in double digits with at least five assists in six games
• Career-high 10 assists vs. Delaware State
• Career-long eight-game double-digit streak from Dec. 9 to Jan. 7
• At least 17 points in five of her last six games
• 652 career points (337 this season)
#55 Promise Taylor • F • Freshman
• Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
• 9.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG
• SEC's top-ranked freshman in shooting percentage (.610)
• 2nd in shooting in conference play (.646)
• SEC's top-ranked freshman in blocks (3.0/game); 14th nationally
• Broke the single-season blocks record of 67 set by Shawn Goff in 2008. Currently has 71 on the year and is on pace to finish with 86.
• Set the single-game blocks record at No. 14 Texas A&M on Feb. 8 with 10, breaking the 1993-94 record of seven by Susan Byrd.
• Her 10 blocks vs. Texas A&M rank as the most in the SEC this year and tied for the third most in a game this season.
• .610 shooting percentage would rank as the Ole Miss single-season school record if the season ended today, bypassing Eugenia Conner's .604 from 1983
• Four double-doubles; nearly had a triple- double at Texas A&M with 14 points, eight rebounds and 10 blocks• Has at least three blocks in 13 games and at least four blocks in seven games this year
#20 Madinah Muhammad • G • Junior
• 17.3 PPG (8th SEC); 16.6 PPG in SEC play
• .847 FT% (2nd SEC); would rank fourth in single-season history if season ended today
• 54 threes made (2.5/game, 2nd SEC)
• 33.8 minutes/game (6th SEC); 37.2 in SEC play
• Has scored in double-digits in 19 of 22 games played
• Scored 20-plus seven times
• Has scored 30-plus twice (Ole Miss hadn't had a 30-point game since 2015- 16 entering the season)
• Had career-long 10-game double-digit streak from Dec. 19 to Jan. 28
• Has played at least 37 minutes in eight SEC games, including 40 in three games
• 972 career points
• Seven threes at No. 10 Tennessee ranks tied for third most in a single game in Ole Miss history; most ever by a Rebel vs. Tennessee
• Seven threes at Tennessee ranks tied for the most in a single game in the SEC this year and leads in conference play
• Has had seven assists in four games this year; has 61 total this year, a single- season career high
• Has only missed multiple free throws in a game twice this season
• Has made five or more free throws seven times this season (season-high 12 vs. Troy)
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in each of its last eight games, as well as in 22 of 24 games played this season. The Rebels have seen success when forcing 15 or more turnovers, going 10-5 in such games this year.
In those 10 victories with at least 15 turnovers forced, Ole Miss is winning by an average of 19.7 PPG.
Ole Miss has forced at least 14 turnovers in seven of its last nine games played.
EARLY BIRD GETS THE WIN
Getting off to a good start has been crucial for the Rebels this season, going 10-2 overall when holding a halftime lead.
When leading at the half and ending up winning the game, Ole Miss is beating opponents by an average of 19.1 PPG.
STARTING EXPERIENCE
The silver lining to losing someone as valuable as Shandricka Sessom so early in the season is that plenty of Rebels are gaining valuable starting experience early in their careers. Of the 11 active Rebels on the roster, 10 have started a game for Ole Miss this season -- including five underclassmen. Ole Miss has used 10 different starting lineup combinations this season, with the most frequent one being Alissa Alston, Madinah Muhammad, Chyna Nixon, Bree Glover and Shelby Gibson.
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INDIVIDUAL NOTES
PROMISE MAKES HISTORY
It's been an incredible first season for freshman Promise Taylor, but she outdid herself with an electrifying performance at No. 14 Texas A&M on Feb. 8 that will stand in the record book for some time.
Needing just six blocks to tie the 2008 single-season blocks record of 67 set by Shawn Goff (and entering the game averaging 2.7 a game), Taylor exploded for 10 blocks to break not only the single- season record, but she went on to break the 1993-94 single-game record of seven set by Susan Byrd.
Taylor's night ranks as the top shot- blocking performance of the season in the SEC, as well as the third-best in the NCAA this year. Taylor is the conference's top freshman shot blocker, ranking third at 3.0 per game (which also ranks her 14th in the NCAA).
Taylor nearly recorded a triple-double in the effort as well, falling just short at 14 points, eight rebounds and 10 blocks. Only three Rebels have ever recorded a triple- double, the last being Kayla Melson on Nov. 13, 2009, vs. Southeast Louisiana with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. No Rebel has ever done so with double-digit blocks.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Freshman Promise Taylor was named SEC Freshman of the Week for the third time this season on Jan. 23, making her the winningest freshman of the award in Ole Miss women's basketball history.
Taylor has recorded four double-doubles this season and, aside from her proficiency in shot blocking, is also the SEC's top freshman in shooting percentage at .610. She also ranks second overall in SEC-only shooting at .646.
ALSTON COMING THROUGH
Junior Alissa Alston has proven herself a skilled scorer during her third season as a Rebel, and has become a crucial component to the Ole Miss offense as both the field marshall at point guard and off the dribble.
Alston is coming off a career-high 28-point outing vs. Vanderbilt on Feb. 1, her fifth 20-point game of the season after not recording any during her first two seasons at Ole Miss. She has scored at least 17 points in five of her last six games played after entering the 2017-18 season with a career-high of only 17 points prior.
Alston has been in double digits in 16 games played this season, shooting 43.2 from the field and 76.4 from the charity stripe. She has had at least three games where she's started at least 8-of-8 from the free throw line, including a 14-of-16 line vs. Middle Tennessee to help lead the Rebels to the national TV win over the Blue Raiders.
SERIOUS PLAYING TIME
Junior Alissa Alston has logged at least 38 minutes in nine of her last 11 games, resulting in her playing for 90 percent of all available floor time in that span (405 of 450 available minutes). When taking out 26 minutes vs. Mizzou and 16 vs. MSU due to foul trouble, that percentage goes up to 98.1 (363 of 370).
Alston ranks third overall in the SEC with 35.1 minutes played, as well as fifth in conference-only games with 36.8 per game.
PERIMETER SHOOTING
Junior Torri Lewis is no stranger to the three-point shot, but she's had a newcomer join her in the three-point assault this season: sophomore center Shelby Gibson.
Of Lewis' 35 field goals this year, 32 are from three -- which includes nine games with multiple treys. Lewis has connected four times from downtown three times in SEC season, including twice in the last three games.
Gibson, who entered the season with a career line of 7-of-14 from three after her freshman season, has gone off for a line of 11-of-34 this year -- with 31 of her attempts coming in the last 10 games.
MUHAMMAD CLOSING IN ON 1,000
Junior Madinah Muhammad is closing in on history with 972 points in her Rebel career. Muhammad has exploded for 381 points through 22 games, a new single-season career-high.
Muhammad is on pace to become one of the top scorers in Ole Miss history, currently on pace for 1,075 by the end of her junior season using her current 17.3 PPG average. If she does, she will become the 29th Rebel to ever eclipse the 1,000-point threshold. She would also become the second junior in as many seasons to pass the milestone (senior Shandricka Sessom did so in 2016-17), and the third in the last six seasons (Valencia McFarland, 2012-13).
HEARTBREAKING LOSS
Senior and Preseason Second-Team All- SEC member Shandricka Sessom tore her ACL during the closing minutes of the first quarter vs. Middle Tennessee on Nov. 29, ending her season. Sessom, who was averaging 17.7 PPG, will redshirt and return in 2018-19.
Sessom currently ranks as the 24th-best scorer in Ole Miss history with 1,131 career points scored.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS ON THE DOCKET
Ole Miss plays 12 schools in 2017-18 that advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2016-17.
Troy (Nov. 21, W, 96-93)
1st Round, lost to runner-up Mississippi St.
Temple (Nov. 25, W, 64-48)
1st Round, lost to Oregon
No. 9 Oregon (Dec. 17, L, 90-46)
Elite Eight, lost to UConn
Texas Southern (Dec. 28, W, 73-58)
1st Round, lost to Baylor
No. 3 South Carolina (Jan. 4, L, 88-62)
Defending NCAA Champions
No. 3 Mississippi State (Jan. 11, L, 76- 45; L, 69-49)
Defending NCAA runners-up
No. 11 Missouri (Jan. 18, L, 67-48)
2nd Round, lost to Florida State
No. 10 Tennessee (Jan. 25, L, 75-66)
2nd Round, lost to Louisville
No. 14 Texas A&M (Feb. 8, L, 83-54)
2nd Round, lost to UCLA
LSU (Feb. 15, in Baton Rouge)
1st Round, lost to Cal
Kentucky (Feb. 22, at home)
2nd Round, lost to Ohio State
Auburn (Feb. 25, in Auburn)
1st Round, lost to NC State
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB on Instagram at Ole MissWBB and on Snapchat with the handle @OleMissWBB. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell.
