Ole Miss women’s basketball fell to the Arkansas Razorbacks 73-61 this past Sunday at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas. They are now 9-19 overall and 3-11 in the conference going into the final two games of the regular season.
After a back-and-forth first half with eight lead changes, a 14-3 Arkansas run late in the third quarter gave the Razorbacks all the momentum they needed to cruise to victory despite a Rebel push with four minutes to go.
“I think we’re still learning how to get that big stop when we need to and that big score when we need it. We didn’t,” Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said.
That push occurred late in the game when a double-digit deficit was cut to eight points after a three-pointer from Shandricka Sessom, but it was short lived. An Ole Miss steal followed, but a costly turnover led to a three-pointer from Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee. That gave the Razorbacks their largest lead to that point. The Rebels ended the game missing seven of their last eight shots.
“That is something that we are going to have to deal with. We are going to have to deal with those types of situations and scenarios,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We just have to get better and get prepared for March.”
Despite winning statistical categories such as rebounds, assists and second-chance points as well as points in the paint and off the bench, shooting doomed the Rebels. They finished the game shooting 40 percent overall but went 4-20 from behind the arc. The Razorbacks shot 45 percent overall but had a nice cushion from the free-throw line, going 20-26.
Defending Dungee was also an issue. Dungee finished with 33 points, including a 5-7 mark in threes. She played all but one minute of the game. The Razorbacks had three others in double figures with A’Tyanna Gaulden scoring 12 and Alexis Tolefree and Jailyn Mason scoring 10 points each.
The scoring was evenly distributed for Ole Miss, with Crystal Allen once again leading the way with 12 points. La’Karis Salter had 11 points, while Mimi Reid had 10.
Reid, the true freshman point guard, has been an emerging part of this team, according to McPhee-McCuin. She played 35 minutes in this game.
“I’m really glad she’s a freshman. She’s going to be a really consistent part of the success we have here. I’m excited about growing with her,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Night in and night out, she leaves it on the court. I really appreciate that.”
Up next, Ole Miss will travel to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to take on Alabama on Thursday before hosting Tennessee for Senior Day next week.
