Ole Miss Crumbles Under JSU Pressure Defense

By Adam Brown
Sports Editor
adam.brown@hottytoddy.com

Shandricka Sessom posted 14 points against Jacksonville State on Sunday. Photo by Petre Thomas/Ole Miss Athletics.

The Ole Miss women’s basketball team fell at home on Sunday 60-49 to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.

Ole Miss (3-6) was led in scoring by Crystal Allen and Shandricka Sessom with 19 and 14 points respectively. The Gamecocks played a pressure defense for the full 40 minutes that caused the Rebels to turn the ball over 20 times

“Jacksonville State just came in here and manhandled us for 40 minutes,” Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. 

The Rebels got off to a fast start in the opening quarter of the game after going on a 10-0 run to open to take a 20-15 advantage. Jacksonville State found their footing to take a 28-25 lead going into the locker room.

The Gamecocks only allowed Ole Miss to score 21 points in the last 20 minutes of play.

“This was a different game from when we played TCU as we were able to bring the ball up the floor,” McPhee-McCuin said. “(JSU) made us work for every shot.”

The loss resulted from offensive boards and turnovers, McPhee-McCuin said.

JSU had three players score in double digits on the night as Destiney Elliott led the way with 20 points. Her teammates Yamia Johnson and Rayven Pearson add 15 and 11 of their own.

Redshirt freshman Mimi Reid was out of the lineup against JSU with a concussion. This marked the second straight game that the Rebels did not have Reid on the court.

Ole Miss returns to the court on Saturday as they take on Savannah State. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at the Pavilion.