Rebels Remain Home for Thursday Night Showdown Against LSU

			OLE MISS (6-10, 0-2 SEC) vs. LSU (10-4, 1-1 SEC) Thursday, Jan. 10 • 7 PM • Oxford, Miss. The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,500) Mini Basketball Hoops
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OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss women's basketball remains at home to play host to the LSU Lady Tigers on Thursday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CT inside The Pavilion and on SEC Network +.

TEAM FACTS

Ole Miss Rebels (6-10, 0-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 1st Season at Ole Miss (6-10) • 100-73 career record (6th Season)

LSU Lady Tigers (10-4, 1-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Nikki Fargas • 8th Season at LSU (142-97) • 214-123 career record (11th season)

ON THE AIR

Television/Online: SEC Network +
Play-by-Play: Richard Cross
Color: Lindsay Roy

OLE MISS RADIO

Radio: 105.1 FM
Audio: TuneIn / RebelVision
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty

SERIES NOTES (LSU leads, 35-22)
At Oxford: Tied 13-13
At Baton Rouge: LSU leads 16-9
At Neutral Sites: LSU leads 6-0
Longest UM Streak: 6 (1990-95)
Longest LSU Streak: 11 (2000-06)
Biggest UM Win: 33 (3/6/93 - at Oxford)
Biggest LSU Win: 44 (3/7/08 - at Nashville)
Most UM Points: 98 (1/15/83 - at Oxford)
Most LSU Points: 91 (3/3/06; 2/12/83)
Last 10 Meetings: LSU leads 9-1

SCOUTING LSU

Current Record: 10-4, 1-1 SEC
• RPI: 53
• Leads the SEC and ranks 8th in the NCAA in scoring defense (52.1 PPG)
• Also leads the SEC in fewest fouls committed (220)
• Two averaging double-digits
• Shooting .432 as a team
• Holds a +12.5 scoring margin on the season
• Outscoring opponents 255-196 in the first quarter and 254-191 in the third
• Out-rebounding opponents by a +6.7 margin

Series History
LSU leads, 35-22

First Meeting
Jan. 28, 1978
• L, 84-77, in Oxford

Last Meeting
Feb. 15, 2018
• L, 84-55, in Baton Rouge

Players to Watch

#5 Ayana Mitchell
• 13.4 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 1.9 SPG, .580 FG
• Has 7 double-doubles this year (22nd NCAA)
• Ranks 4th SEC, 37th NCAA in RPG (10.1)

#3 Khayla Pointer
• 12.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.9 SPG
• .482 FG, .400 3PT
• 5th SEC in assists

TEAM NOTES

LAST TIME OUT (vs. Arkansas)
The Ole Miss women's basketball team had a tough time slowing down a potent Arkansas offense, as the Rebels fell to the Razorbacks, 85-55, at The Pavilion on Jan. 6.

Despite drawing even elsewhere on the stat sheet, Ole Miss (6-10, 0-2 SEC) struggled offensively for much of the game. Meanwhile, Arkansas (12-4, 1-1 SEC) had no such troubles, shooting 47.8 percent overall and going 12-of-30 from beyond the arc against a Rebel three-point defense that was holding opponents to 28.7 percent overall entering today. By contrast, the Rebels tied a season-low 20 percent from three on a 3-of-15 clip.

"(Arkansas' shooting) was the game," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "And I don't think it was because our kids didn't play hard. Our reality is we're in the SEC, and it gets tough. But on the flip side, there were a lot of positives from our freshmen, and I don't think we can expect Crystal to give us a 20-point night every game. It's just getting easier to defend if she's the only one scoring."

Arkansas was able to hold top Rebel scorer Crystal Allen to just 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting. This still marked her 14th double-digit game in 16 tries this season, but it was her first game not at or above 20 points since Dec. 15. Fellow senior La'Karis Salter also reached double figures, scoring 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Both Allen and Salter scored nine of their points in the second half.

Shannon Dozier (six points, two rebounds, two steals), Shandricka Sessom (six points, five rebounds, two assists) and Taylor Smith (six rebounds, two steals) all chipped in six points. Freshman Gabby Crawford (four points) led with seven rebounds, while Mahogany Matthews (four points) added three blocks in the effort.

The Rebels managed to keep Arkansas off the free throw line for much of the game (entering they held the 10th most free throws made nationally) and tied 39-39 on the glass, but four Razorbacks scored in double-digits amid the flurry of Arkansas buckets: Chelsea Dungee (17 points, 3-of-7 3PT), Jailyn Mason (16 points, six rebounds, three assists, 4-of-6 3PT), Malica Monk (16 points, five assists, 2-of-5 3PT) and Kiara Williams (13 points, 10 rebounds, five steals).

VARIETY IN THE STARTING LINEUP
Ole Miss has opened conference play with two brand-new starting lineups vs. Mizzou and Arkansas, the eighth and ninth different starting sets for the Rebels this season, respectively. Both lineups have included at least three freshmen, with the last game vs. Arkansas containing four: Gabby Crawford, Mahogany Matthews, Mimi Reid and Taylor Smith. Of the 11 Rebels that have seen the floor this season, 10 have been in the starting lineup at least once.

The longest running lineup of the season thus far has been that of redshirt freshman Mimi Reid (point guard), senior Crystal Allen (guard), senior Shandricka Sessom (guard), junior Jhileiya Dunlap (forward) and senior Cecilia Muhate (forward). That lineup has gone 3-3 this season.

DAUNTING SCHEDULE AHEAD
Ole Miss has had a fairly strong non-conference schedule with the likes of current RPI top-100 teams like UConn (No. 6), Purdue (No. 75), St. John's (No. 65) and TCU (No. 85), but the upcoming SEC slate will prove to be as difficult as ever, with nine conference schools currently falling within the top-100. Of those, seven rank within the top-50 and three within the top-25. Ole Miss currently holds the No. 83 toughest schedule according to the NCAA's strength of schedule index.

SHARING IS CARING
Controlling the game with an efficient offense has been crucial for the Rebels this season, as Ole Miss has gone 5-3 in games where it tallies more assists than its opponent but 1-7 on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Ole Miss has only recorded 11 total assists through two conference games, but the Rebels had a stellar non-conference season sharing the ball. In 14 non-conference games, Ole Miss had at least 15 assists in seven games, with at least 20 in four contests. By contrast, the Rebels only eclipsed the 20-assist mark three times throughout the entire 2017-18 season.

The Rebels had impressive success sharing the ball over a three-game stretch of at least 18 assists from Dec. 8-15, the first three-game streak for Ole Miss since Dec. 10-17, 2016. In back-to-back outings vs. Savannah State (21) and Louisiana (24), Ole Miss recorded the first consecutive contests with at least 20 assists since doing so in two straight on Dec. 21, 2011 (22, vs. Cleveland State) and Dec. 29, 2011 (24, vs. Southeastern Louisiana). The Rebels have not dished out 20 or more assists in three consecutive games since a three-game stretch from Nov. 13-20, 2009, with three games vs. Southeastern Louisiana (24; Nov. 13), Sam Houston State (27; Nov. 17) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (26; Nov. 20).

Additionally, the +11 assist/turnover ratio vs. Louisiana (24 assists, 13 turnovers) on Dec. 12 was the best for Ole Miss since a +12 edge in a win over No. 25 Oregon on Dec. 14, 2016 (19 assists, seven turnovers).

OFF THE LINE
Rebel opponents have often had a difficult time finding success from beyond the arc this season, as Ole Miss is currently holding teams to just 29.7 percent from three. Only six of 16 Rebel opponents have been able shoot better than 30 percent, with seven shooting 25 percent or worse. Last season, Ole Miss held opponents under 30 percent just 10 times all season. At LA Tech, the Rebels held the Lady Techsters to an opponent season-low 16.7 percent clip from beyond the arc.

FROM WAY DOWNTOWN, YES!
In contrast to the stingy Ole Miss three-point defense, the Rebels have also found success from offensively from beyond the arc. After not breaking better than 33 percent in the first six games of the season, Ole Miss has gone on to shoot at least 33 percent or better in seven of the last 10 games played -- including four straight at 47 percent or above and three in a row atop the 50 percent plateau. During that four-game stretch from Nov. 24 (vs. St. John's) to Dec. 8 (vs. Savannah State), the Rebels shot 23-of-45 (51.1 percent). In that span, Ole Miss seniors Crystal Allen (59.1, 13-of-22) and Shandricka Sessom (52.9, 9-of-17) combined for 95.7 of all three-pointers made.

Just recently, the Rebels made a season-high 14 three-pointers vs. North Florida, tied for the fifth-most in school history and the third-best team output in the SEC this season. Helping greatly in that effort was nine threes alone from Allen, the second-most by a Rebel in school history. Overall this season, Ole Miss is shooting 34.7 percent from three (87-of-251), the fifth-best clip in the SEC.

EARLY SUCCESS = WINS
When the Rebel offense has gotten off to a strong start, it has meant good things for Ole Miss by game's end. The Rebels are 6-1 when holding a lead at halftime, sitting ahead by an average of 11.3 points each time.

OFF THE GLASS
Rebounding has been key for the Rebels in non-conference play and is sure to be crucial in the conference season. Currently, Ole Miss is 5-2 in games when out-rebounding opponents, but just 1-7 when getting beat on the glass. The Rebels average 38.3 rebounds per game -- 45.2 in wins, 34.2 in losses.

ROAD TO 100
First-year head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin notched her 100th career win after an 82-69 victory over her old ASUN rival, North Florida, on Dec. 28. Coach Yo holds a 100-73 overall record in six seasons as a head coach. She spent the previous five as the head coach at Jacksonville. There, she guided JU to a 94-63 overall record, three-straight 20-win seasons and three postseason appearances.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

SIGNIFICANT PLAYING TIME FOR ALLEN
Being the main offensive catalyst for the Rebels has resulted in an immense workload for senior Crystal Allen, who has rarely come off the floor over the last month. After only playing 35 minutes or more three times in the first 11 games of the year, Allen has played at least 35 in each of the last five games dating back to a 40-minute outing at Louisiana Tech, averaging 37.2 minutes per game in that stretch -- which accounts for 93 percent of all available court time. In those five games, Allen is averaging 19.8 PPG and has made 18 threes.

ALLEN ON FIRE
Senior Crystal Allen has consistently been the top scorer for the Rebels this year, scoring in double-digits in 14 of 16 games played and notching at least 20 points in six games this season. Allen leads the SEC in total points (293) and threes made (47), and she ranks second overall in points per game (18.3). In a blistering three-game stretch from Dec. 19 to Jan. 3, Allen averaged 26.3 PPG and sank 15 threes in three consecutive 20-point outings.

Allen also ranks in the SEC top-10 in: threes per game (second, 2.9), minutes played (third, 34.9), three-point percentage (sixth, .379) and free throw percentage (seventh, .794).

In the NCAA ranks, she sits within the top-100 in 11 different categories, which include top-25 standings in field goal attempts (sixth, 255), minutes played (11th, 558), total points (15th, 293), threes made (16th, 47) and threes attempted (17th, 124).

ALLEN ON PACE FROM THREE
Crystal Allen has been money from three for the Rebels this year, draining 47 of the 87 Ole Miss treys this year (54.0 percent). At her pace of 2.9 treys per game, Allen is on pace to sink 87 three-pointers this season -- which would be the second-best three-point shooting season in Ole Miss history behind Bianca Thomas' 100 threes from 2009-10.

YOU GO, WE GO
In Rebel wins, senior Crystal Allen is averaging 21.7 PPG (30.5 percent of all Rebel scoring) while shooting 47.2 percent overall, 46.9 percent from three (23-of-49) and 79.3 percent from the free throw line.

HISTORIC DAY FOR ALLEN
Senior Crystal Allen set the net on fire with a historic offensive showing vs. North Florida on Dec. 28, becoming the first Rebel to earn SEC Player of the Week honors since Shequila Joseph on Jan. 26, 2016. Allen poured in a career-high 34 points vs. the Ospreys, the most points scored by anyone in the SEC this season. Allen was 11-of-17 from the field, which also included an absurd 9-of-15 line from beyond the arc, the second-most threes in a single-game in Ole Miss history and the most by anyone in the SEC this season by two. Remarkably, Allen nailed five of her nine three-pointers in the first quarter alone. Allen set women's Pavilion records in both points and threes made, and her nine threes rank tied for the third-most in a single game in the NCAA this season.

Her 34-point performance is the highest scoring output by a Rebel since current senior Torri Lewis notched 36 vs. New Orleans as a freshman on Dec. 14, 2015 – the same game she set the Ole Miss three-pointer single-game record with 10 treys (which still ties for the third-most in NCAA history for a single game).

MIMI DIRECTING TRAFFIC
Redshirt freshman point guard Mimi Reid has been a true general on the floor for the Rebels in her first season of action, spearheading what has become an efficient Rebel offensive attack. Reid is the only player in the SEC this season with separate games of 11+ assists (vs. Louisiana, career-high). and 11+ rebounds (vs. Western Michigan, career-high).

Reid leads all SEC freshmen and ranks third among all freshmen nationally with 72 assists, putting her average of 5.1 per game at No. 4 in the SEC. Reid's per-game average also ranks 48th in the NCAA. In the two games that she missed vs. TCU (L, 55-50) and Jacksonville State (L, 60-49) due to a concussion, Ole Miss tallied just 19 total assists. In two triumphant wins over Savannah State and Louisiana upon her return, Reid herself accumulated 19 assists.

BACK IN THE SADDLE
After a slow start to the season following her return from a season-ending knee injury last year, senior Shandricka Sessom has resumed her role as a consistent offensive outlet for the Rebels. Sessom only scored 5.5 points per game in her first six games played, but has gone on to score 12.9 per game since. That increase included a five-game stretch of double-digit games, among which was a 20-point game at LA Tech. Sessom is averaging 9.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

SESSOM JOINS RARE COMPANY
Redshirt senior Shandricka Sessom has made her way up the all-time scoring list at Ole Miss, but Sessom has recently moved into even more rare company. At 1,276 points and 543 rebounds in her storied career, Sessom is one of just 13 Rebels to ever eclipse 1,200 points and 500 boards. Throughout her career, Sessom has accumulated game averages of 11.2 points and 4.8 boards per game.

REDEMPTION FOR SESSOM
Redshirt senior Shandricka Sessom put the team on her back in a gutsy Rebel performance vs. TCU on Nov. 29, breaking out of a slow start to her final season at Ole Miss with a demonstrative 19-point, 7-rebound performance against the Horned Frogs. It was a season-high scoring effort out of Sessom in just her second double-digit game of the season after returning from a gruesome ACL injury that occurred exactly one year to the day from her offensive explosion vs. TCU. In the first quarter vs. Middle Tennessee on Nov. 29, 2017, Sessom went down with the knee injury that would sideline her the rest of the season after seven excellent games played. Sessom, who was averaging 17.7 PPG at the time of her injury, was awarded a fifth year of eligibility on a medical hardship waiver.

CLASS OF THE SEC
Senior guards Shandricka Sessom and Crystal Allen both have 1,000 career points scored, making Ole Miss one of just three SEC schools with two active players above the 1,000 mark. Sessom ranks sixth among active SEC scorers with 1,276 points, while Allen's 1,121 puts her at 11th in the league.

JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES
Junior Jhileiya Dunlap has been the Swiss Army knife for the Rebels this season, ranking as a top contributor across several different categories. Dunlap is averaging 7.2 points, 4.8 rebounds 1.9 blocks, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game for Ole Miss, shooting .471 overall and starting in 10 of 16 games played. Most impressively, Dunlap is the only player currently in the SEC to have recorded at least 25 blocks (30) and 25 assists (27). Overall, Dunlap ranks 28th in the NCAA and fourth in the SEC in blocks, accounting for 50 percent of all Rebel swats this season.

Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB on Instagram at Ole MissWBB and on Snapchat with the handle @OleMissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on Twitter at @YolettMcCuin

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Players Mentioned

Crystal Allen

Gabby Crawford

Shannon Dozier

Torri Lewis

Mahogany Matthews

Cecilia Muhate

Mimi Reid

La'Karis Salter

Shandricka Sessom

Taylor Smith

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