The ladies take center stage tonight's SEC on CSS as Ole Miss travels to Florida and Auburn visits Alabama.
Ole Miss (7-11, 0-5 SEC) at
Florida (13-6, 2-3 SEC) 7:00 PM ET on CSS
The Lady Rebels have had a less than ideal season with firings of head coach Adrian Wiggins, assistant coach Kenya Landers, director of basketball operations Michael Landers, and having Junior college transfers Kay Caples and Brandy Broome ruled ineligible. These events were the result of the NCAA's ruling of "impermissible recruiting contacts and academic misconduct." That has not kept acting head coach Brett Frank's ladies from fighting for their season.
The 7-11, 0-5 SEC records may lead you to believe otherwise, but the Rebels have lost nailbiters including Sunday in overtime to Missouri. Three names responsible for bringing this team together are names to watch in tonight's match up versus the Florida Gators. Tia Faleru leads the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game, followed closely by Valencia McFarland and Diara Moore with 11.3 and 11.0 points per game respectively. McFarland is 21 points shy of the 1,000 point milestone, leads the team in assists and steals, and is on pace for her third straight 100 plus assist season.
Amanda Butler's Florida squad is no stranger to tight games either. All five of the Gators' SEC matchups have been decided by eight points or less- most recently to 19 South Carolina. This has to be encouraging for a team with only four juniors and seniors. Jaterra Bonds and Jennifer George have made sure that while the numbers are sparse, the veteran leadership abounds. As a preseason 1st Team All-SEC, George has amassed 1,100 career points & 796 career rebounds. The Gators were without her services in the South Carolina loss due to an injury suffered versus Tennessee. Bonds has been the leading scoring in each SEC game to date averaging 12.2 points per game on the season.
The Gators come into the game as favorites looking to take advantage of home court as they boast a 9-2 record at the O'Connell Center. Do not give up on Ole Miss at the half. The Rebels have been outscored 128-76 in the first half this season, but lead their opponents 108-71 in the second. Watch out if they get it going early.
Ole Miss Probable Starting Lineup
F Danielle McCray 6-1 So
F Courtney Marbra 6-1 Sr
G Valencia McFarland 5-4 Jr
G Diara Moore 5-7 Jr
G Gracie Frizzell 5-10 Fr
Ole Miss
Points Per Game: ................... 67.2
Scoring Defense: ................... 68.5
Scoring Margin: ...................... -1.3
Rebounding Margin: .............. 1.4
FG: .................................... 36.5
3FG: .................................. 26.3
FT: ..................................... 69.9
L. Rebel Leaders
Scoring: ...................... Faleru, 11.7
Rebounding:................Marbra, 6.1
Assists: .................. McFarland, 5.0
Florida Probable Starters
GF Kayla Lewis 6-0 So
C Vicky McIntyre 6-7 Jr
G January Miller 5-8 Fr
G Carlie Needles 5-6 Fr
G Jaterra Bonds 5-7 Jr
Florida
Points Per Game: ................... 72.6
Scoring Defense: ................... 63.5
Scoring Margin: ..................... 9.1
Rebounding Margin: .............. 4.9
FG: .................................... 43.3
3FG: .................................. 30.2
FT: ..................................... 66.5
Gator Leaders
Scoring: .................... George, 13.4
Rebounding:............... George, 8.5
Assists: ............ Bonds & Moss, 3.6
Auburn (13-6, 2-4 SEC) at Alabama (13-5, 1-4 SEC) 9:00 PM ET on CSS
AUBURN STARTERS LAST GAME
Hasina Muhammad GF 6-1 SO
Najat Ouardad G 5-1 SR
Blanche Alverson FG 6-3 SR
Tyrese Tanner GF 6-1 JR
Peyton Davis C 6-5 JR
ALABAMA STARTERS LAST GAME
Daisha Simmons G 5-10 SO
Jasmine Robinson G 5-7 JR
Meghan Perkins G 5-11 SR
Shafontaye Myers G 5-8 JR
Kaneisha Horn F 6-1 SO
