Jan. 2, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. -For the second game in a row Vanderbilt saw its double-digit lead evaporate as Ole Miss rallied from 18 points down to top the Commodores 72-67 on Sunday in the SEC opener for both teams.
The loss dropped Vanderbilt to 9-5 overall and 0-1 in the SEC, while Ole Miss improved to 8-5 overall and 1-0 in the SEC. Vanderbilt had won four straight SEC lid-lifters before Sunday.
With shades of its loss at Virginia Tech — in which the Commodores lost a 17-point lead –still lingering, Vanderbilt looked as if it was well on its way to putting the loss to the Hokies in its rear-view mirror. The Commodores built an 18-point lead in the first half against the Rebels and took a 16-point lead into the locker room. But just like against Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt was unable to slow down the second-half charge by the Rebels.
Ole Miss began the second half on a 16-6 run to pull within six, 46-40, with 16:15 to play, and for a short period, it looked as if that would be as close as the Rebels would come. Vanderbilt would score the next six points to extend its lead to 12, 52-40.
However, the Rebels would slowly chip away at Vanderbilt’s lead and eventually take a 57-56 lead with 5:09 to play. The lead was Ole Miss’ first since holding a 6-4 advantage with 17:49 to play in the first half.
A basket by Jence Rhoads would give Vanderbilt the lead again at 58-57, but that would be the last time the Commodores would lead as Ole Miss went on an 8-0 run to take a 65-58 lead, which would prove to be too much to overcome.
Vanderbilt pulled back within two, 65-63, with 50 seconds to play, but a three-point play by Ole Miss’ Kayla Melson, who scored a career-high 30 points, would extend the Rebels’ lead back to five, 68-63, with 41 seconds to play. Ole Miss would ice the game by making its final four free throws.
The Commodores were led by Jence Rhoads and Hannah Tuomi, who each scored 16 points. Jasmine Lister added 15 points, including three of the team’s five three-pointers. Vanderbilt shot just 35.5 percent from the floor in the second half, while Ole Miss made 54.2 percent of its second-half attempts. The Commodores also made just 1-of-9 three-point attempts in the second half.
Ole Miss was also able to get to the foul line more time than the Commodores. The Rebels made 21-of-28 free throws, while Vanderbilt made 8-of-10 attempts. Ole Miss won despite committing 22 turnovers.
After playing three straight games away from Nashville, the Commodores will play their first SEC home game of the season on Thursday at 7 p.m. against Mississippi State.
