Ole Miss guard Valencia McFarland (3) hugs forward Kenyotta Jenkins (11) after Jenkins’ game-winning shot at the end of overtime of an NCAA college basketball game in Oxford, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Ole Miss won 87-85. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
The Ole Miss women’s basketball team played their best game of the season and defeated Mississippi State 87-85 in overtime thanks to a put-back layup by senior forward Kenyotta Jenkins with a second left for their first Southeastern Conference win of the season.
The Rebels improved to 10-10 and 1-5 in SEC play. The win was also the first conference win for first-year head coach Matt Insell.
“I didn’t know this win would ever come,” Insell said. “I’m working my tail off for these girls, and they’re playing their tail off for me. I’m going to give them every thing I got during the game.”
Ole Miss never quit in this game. Mississippi State led by 11 points with 12:13 to go in the second half.
Junior forward Tia Faleru and senior point guard Valencia McFarland led things for the Rebels. Faleru put up a game-high 29 points on 8 of 12 shooting and also grabbed 15 rebounds. McFarland scored 27 points and dished out 12 assists, earning her fourth double-double of the year.
“We fought to the end,” McFarland said. “We had to win, it’s a rivalry. It was my first win against Mississippi State.”
The Bulldogs (14-6, 1-6 SEC) led most of the game until the 2:30 mark in regulation. With a chance to run the clock out for the final shot in overtime, the Bulldogs turned the ball over, and Ole Miss capitalized with a steal that led to a Jenkins put-back layup off a McFarland missed layup.
“I didn’t get my girls home tonight,” Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer said. “When you have a two-point lead with the ball to win the game, you have to close it out. It’s my fault.”
Ole Miss entered panic mode when forward Shequila Joseph fouled out with 3:13 to go in overtime. Coach Insell adjusted and put in Jenkins, who made two huge buckets that helped the Rebels get the win.
“I work on that offside tip-in every day in practice,” Jenkins said. “I knew that I had to run the floor as quickly as I could after the steal to get myself in position for the putback.”
Insell was extremely humbled to win this game after starting 0-5 in SEC play.
“I’m at the best place right now in the country to coach women’s basketball. One day, we’re going to win a national championship at this University, ” Insell said. “It may not be this season, or next, but we’re going to look back in a few years and laugh at these games..”
Next up, Ole Miss welcomes No. 14 LSU to Tad Smith Coliseum. That tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and will televised by SEC TV.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss women’s basketball, follow @browningstubbs and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— By Browning Stubbs
bbstubbs@go.olemiss.edu
