Mississippi forward Tia Faleru (32) shoots past Georgia Tech forward Roddreka Rogers (54) during the first half of an Women’s NIT second-round college basketball game in Oxford, Miss., Sunday, March 22, 2015. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
Ole Miss (19-13) got the victory in the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament over Georgia Tech (19-15) by a score of 63-48 Sunday night. The win will set up a rematch against Middle Tennessee State and Ole Miss head coach Matt Insell’s father MTSU head coach Rick Insell in the third round of the WNIT.
“What a great win for our program,” Insell said. “I keep saying it, but in year two of our process, not a lot of people thought we would be at this point. Georgia Tech is a very good basketball team, and they have one of the best players in the country on their team.”
Senior forward Tia Faleru didn’t want this game to be her last as she piled in a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Erika Sisk had a nice game as well as she reeled in 16 points and four assists. Senior forward Danielle McCray chipped in with 12 points and five rebounds.
Ole Miss forced 23 Georgia Tech turnovers in the game and had 14 steals, as well as four by Faleru and three by freshman guard A’Queen Hayes.
The Rebels just shot 34 percent from the field and 5-for-20 from beyond the arc. With forcing 23 turnovers, the Rebels converted those turnovers into 30 points and their defense held Georgia Tech to just 34 percent shooting from the field and just 3-for-18 from three.
Insell and the Rebels look to win three postseason games for the first time since the 2009-2010 season and avenge an early season loss to the Blue Raiders as they go on the road at 7 p.m. Thursday in Murfreesburo, Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders beat the Rebels 71-65 on Nov. 23.
