OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA/Ole Miss Athletics) – Valencia McFarland’s 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists and an impressive second half led Ole Miss to a 65-51 come-from-behind victory over Mississippi State Thursday night.
With the win Ole Miss improved to (9-15, 2-9 Southeastern Conference) while Mississippi State fell to (11-13, 3-8 SEC). Ole Miss snaps a six-game losing streak to Mississippi State with the win.
Ole Miss trailed by as many as 12 in the first half before taking its first lead of the game with 13:36 and never looking back. The Rebels outscored the Lady Bulldogs 38-16 in the second half and used a 20-3 run to start the second half and break the game open.
In addition to McFarland’s performance, Tia Faleru recorded her fourth career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Kenyotta Jenkins added 10 points and eight rebounds.
For the game, Ole Miss shot 37.7 percent from the floor (23-61) including 43.8 percent (14-32) in the second half.
Mississippi State was led by Kendra Grant's 16-poilnt night. Martha Alwal posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
MSU shot 36.2 percent from the field (21-5*, including 14.3 percent from behind the arc (2-14).
The Lady Bulldogs started the game on a 10-2 run and pushed its lead to 10 with 8:56 left in the half. Jenkins scored six straight points for Ole Miss within the last three minutes of the game to cut the lead to six, 31-25, with 2:22 left in the half.
Mississippi State led at the half, 35-27. Jenkins led Ole Miss with eight points in the first half while Diara Moore added six. The Rebels shot 31.0 percent (9-29) from the floor while the Lady Bulldogs shot 48.3 percent (14-29).
The Rebels started the second half on a 20-3 run to take the lead 47-40 with 11:49 to play. The Rebels stretched their lead to 12, 54-42, on a layup from Tia Faleru with 6:04 left to play.
Ole Miss' bench outscored Mississippi State's bench 23-7 for the game.
Ole Miss will host No. 14 South Carolina at 1 p.m while Mississippi State hosts LSU at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
