Forward Tia Faleru shoots the ball in a game earlier this season. DM Photo | Payton Teffner
The Ole Miss Rebels (17-12, 7-9 SEC) head to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the 2015 SEC tournament as they face the Arkansas Razorbacks (16-12, 6-10 SEC) at noon Thursday.
These two teams know each other pretty well – they faced off in the conference opener. The Rebels came through with a victory by a score of 71-57. Sophomore transfer guard Erika Sisk led the way with 19 points, and senior forward Tia Faleru had a double-double, scoring 10 points and pulling in 11 rebounds.
That result means nothing now as the Rebels begin the conference tournament slate. Head coach Matt Insell alluded to in his press conference Tuesday that the team is taking a 0-0 record approach into the weekend.
In the Rebels’ most recent game they played, they dropped a contest to Mississippi State 55-47 last Sunday.
It has been an impressive first year for head coach Jimmy Dykes as his team has been a steady force in the SEC and has his team lined up for an NCAA tournament birth. Although the Razorbacks go into the tournament limping, they lost three of their last four games, including a loss at Missouri to finish the regular season.
Sophomore forward Jessica Jackson and sophomore guard Kelsey Brooks lead Arkansas in scoring at 14.6 and 14.4 points per game respectively. Junior forward Melissa Wolff and senior forward Jhasmin Brown both lead the team in rebounding with eight and 6.6 rebounds per game respectively.
Arkansas as a team averages 60.8 points per game and allows only 55.1 points per game. The one thing that the Hogs do well is rebound the ball at a high mark at 40.9 rebounds per game. That is good for fourth in the SEC. Arkansas only allows their opponents to shoot 28 percent from three.
For a team that loves to speed you up on offense and create turnover, the Rebels are going to have a hard time doing that. Arkansas turns the ball over on average 13.6 times per game. Ole Miss turns their opponents over on average 17 times per game.
The Rebels come into the game averaging a steady 64.7 points per game and on defense, while giving up 62 points per game.
As well in the press conference Tuesday, Matt Insell talked about the need for paint touches to be successful. Faleru, freshman guard A’Queen Hayes and Sisk will all dictate that outcome.
First team All-SEC Faleru will need all of her 14.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game to help that cause and hometown player, junior Little Rock native Gracie Frizzel (36 percent three-point), will look to provide the threat from the outside that Ole Miss will need.
Fresh off her All-freshman honors, Hayes will look to give the Rebels another scoring threat needed to knock off the Razorbacks. It will be her first SEC tournament appearance.
Key reserves, including senior forward Danielle McCray and Sisk give the Rebels more threats on offense.
The two teams will play at noon Thursday on the SEC Network.
