Valencia McFarland shoots the ball during a game earlier this season. Photo: Alex Edwards, The Daily Mississippian.
As we turn the corner to 2014, the Ole Miss women’s basketball team has started play in the Southeastern Conference. They have played close in several games but have yet to get head coach Matt Insell his first SEC win. They will look to do that against in-state rival Mississippi State tonight at 6 p.m. in Oxford.
Over the break, in a close 87-80 loss, the Rebels played their hearts out, but saw a halftime lead slip away against then-ninth-ranked Baylor. That game showed that Ole Miss can compete with anyone. Currently, the Rebels stand at 9-10 overall and 0-5 in the SEC.
In the last home game, the Rebels dropped an 80-74 nail-biter to 16th-ranked Vanderbilt. Last Sunday, the Rebels rallied back from a nine-point halftime deficit only to lose a heartbreaking 68-65 game to Arkansas in Fayetteville.
On the other hand, Mississippi State is also struggling in conference play. The Bulldogs currently sit at 14-5 and 1-4 in the SEC.
Impact Players
Ole Miss: Senior point guard Valencia McFarland must come through if the Rebels want to win their first conference game of the season against their biggest rival. McFarland leads Ole Miss in points, assists and steals this season. After playing the whole game against Arkansas and scoring 25 points, the Rebels will need her to repeat that performance if they want to win.
Mississippi State: Junior center Martha Alwal is having a tremendous season for the Bulldogs, averaging 15.6 points and 8.3 rebounds. Stopping Alwal will be a tough challenge for Shequila Joseph and Tia Faleru. Her 6-foot-4 frame has caused problems for several teams this year. Attacking the basket and getting Alwal in foul trouble would be a huge plus for the Rebels.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss women’s basketball, follow @browningstubbs and @thdm_sports on Twitter.
— Browning Stubbs
bbstubbs@go.olemiss.edu
