Rebels Carry Early-Season Momentum to Kentucky

Today’s sports roundup also features Rebels Fall to No. 5 South Carolina, Harrison Named Allstate SEC Basketball Legend

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Rebels Carry Early-Season Momentum to Kentucky

The Ole Miss track & field teams look to carry momentum from a sensational debut weekend to the upcoming Rod McCravy Memorial, hosted by the University of Kentucky this Friday and Saturday.
The No. 21 Ole Miss women boast NCAA leaders in the shot put (Raven Saunders – 19.10m/62-8) and weight throw (Janeah Stewart – 21.83m/71-7.5) after their opening-weekend performances at the Commodore Invitational in Nashville, Tennessee. A number of freshmen stood out in their college debuts to boost the Rebels’ confidence against some stiff competition this weekend.
Women’s teams in Lexington, Kentucky, this weekend will include No. 4 USC, No. 5 Texas, No. 8 Kentucky, No. 10 Purdue, No. 13 Baylor, No. 14 Miami, No. 21 Ole Miss, Clemson, Harvard, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Penn State and UCF.
Men’s teams in action will include No. 6 USC, No. 7 Texas, No. 20 Penn State, Baylor, Clemson, Harvard, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Miami, Ole Miss, Purdue and UCF.
Ole Miss will send to the start line some of its top distance runners for the first time this indoor season. It will be their first competition in the Red and Blue since the men earned fourth place and the women were 23rd at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November.
On Friday, the women’s pentathlon starts at 9:30 a.m. CT, with field events getting underway at 12:30 p.m. and running events at 5:10 p.m. Saturday’s slate will kick off with men’s heptathlon at 9 a.m., field events at 10 a.m. and running events at 11 a.m.
The meet will be broadcast on SEC Network+ on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. CT. The live broadcast will feature highlights of some of the top events from Friday as well.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

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Rebels Fall to No. 5 South Carolina

The Ole Miss women’s basketball team battled from start to finish with the No. 5 South Carolina Gamecocks on Thursday night but couldn’t score the upset road victory, falling 65-46 at the Colonial Life Arena.
Ole Miss scored five straight to open the fourth quarter and got the lead to 15 points, 55-40, at the 8:08 mark, but back-to-back big points from South Carolina’s Bianca Cuevas-Moore stopped any of Ole Miss’ momentum and sparked a 7-0 South Carolina run which saw the Gamecocks pull ahead, 59-40 at the media timeout, a lead they wouldn’t give up the rest of the way.
Taylor Manuel (St. Louis, Mo.) was a huge spark in the second half for the Rebels. The forward scored 13 points in the second half and was Ole Miss’ presence in the paint throughout. Shandricka Sessom (Byhalia, Miss.) added 11 points for Ole Miss – her third straight game in double figures and 15th of the season. Sessom also lead the way on the glass with seven rebounds. Ole Miss couldn’t get any offensive rhythm all night, shooting just 36 percent (19-of-52) from the floor, and was 6-of-14 from the free throw line.
Out of halftime, Ole Miss forced a South Carolina turnover on the first play and a foul on the other end sent Manuel to the line. The forward tallied five early points and established herself in the paint for the Rebels, who tried to chip away at the Gamecock lead by getting out in transition and getting to the free throw line. Ole Miss was able to make some headway but couldn’t stop the Gamecocks Kaela Davis, who seemed to make shots from everywhere.
The game was fairly evenly played in the first quarter with the Gamecocks leading 12-7 at the first media timeout. The Rebels made the Gamecocks convert from the line early with six of their first 12 points coming from the free throw line. Sessom converted on a beautiful backdoor pass to cut the lead to 12-9, but the home team used an 8-2 spurt to take a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 20-11.
Sessom, who historically has been successful against South Carolina, continued that trend in the first quarter with six of Ole Miss’ 11 points, which led to 10 first-half.
Ole Miss cut the lead to five points, 20-15, with four consecutive points to start the second quarter, but nine first-half turnovers led to South Carolina points, particularly in the second quarter. Ole Miss had six in the second quarter, which led to 12 South Carolina points. The Rebels had success in the paint with 12 points, but trailed 37-22 at halftime.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

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Harrison Named Allstate SEC Basketball Legend

Ole Miss Basketball great Jason Harrison has been named to the 2017 Allstate SEC Legends class, the league office announced Friday.
One of the most popular players in Ole Miss Basketball history, Harrison earned All-SEC honors twice during his career from 1999-2002 and helped lead the Rebels to three NCAA Tournament appearances and a pair of SEC West titles.
The 5-5 point guard hit one of the biggest shots in Ole Miss history – a 3-pointer with 48 second left – that propelled the Rebels over Norte Dame in the 2001 NCAA Tournament and to the first Sweet Sixteen appearance in school history. Harrison stills ranks in the top ten in Ole Miss history in assists, free throw percentage and wins.
Featuring former greats from all 14 Southeastern Conference member institutions, the Allstate SEC Basketball Legends will be honored at the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament March 8-12 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.
In addition to Harrison, the 2017 class includes George Linn, Alabama; Oliver Miller, Arkansas; Marquis Daniels, Auburn; Matt Bonner, Florida; Jimmy Pitts, Georgia; Keith Bogans, Kentucky; Tasmin Mitchell, LSU; Dontae’ Jones, Mississippi State; Jon Sundvold, Missouri; Bobby Cremins, South Carolina; Ron Slay, Tennessee; Acie Law IV, Texas A&M; Barry Booker, Vanderbilt.
Each SEC Basketball Legend will be recognized at halftime of his institution’s first game at the tournament.
Highlighting the schedule of events at the Sunkist Soda SEC FanFare will be appearances by selected legends. Fanfare will be located at Broadway and 5th Avenue.
This marks the 19th year of the SEC Basketball Legends program.
Last year’s group included Ennis Whatley, Alabama; Pat Bradley, Arkansas; Jack Stewart, Auburn; Lee Humphrey, Florida; Jarvis Hayes, Georgia; Larry Conley, Kentucky; Stanley Roberts, LSU; Johnny Neumann, Ole Miss; Mario Austin, Mississippi State; Devan Downey, South Carolina; Vincent Yarbrough, Tennessee; Carroll Broussard, Texas A&M; Shan Foster, Vanderbilt.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports

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