Ole Miss women’s basketball blows past Louisiana-Monroe

Published 6:20 pm Saturday, December 10, 2016

Ole Miss’ women’s basketball team didn’t have much trouble picking up its latest win.

Madinah Mahammad led four Rebels in double figures with 21 points, and Ole Miss cruised to its most lopsided victory of the season with a 97-40 pasting of Louisiana-Monroe at the Pavilion at Ole Miss on Saturday.

The Rebels weren’t ever threatened, leading 31-5 after the first quarter and 49-11 at the half. The margin of victory is the fifth-largest in program history.

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Shandricka Sessom added 16 points, Erika Sisk had 13 points and Bretta Hart chipped in 10 for the Rebels, who improved to 6-0 at home for the first time since starting the 2012-13 home slate 7-0.

Freshman forward Shelby Gibson made her first career start, finishing with eight points and four rebounds. The Rebels were plus-10 (45-35) in rebounding margin

Ole Miss shot 45.2 percent from the floor and 46.2 from 3-point range and finished with 25 assists on 33 made baskets. Alissa Alston dished out a career-high nine assists.

Mahammad eclipsed the 20-point mark for the third time this season, going 5 of 12 from the field, 4 of 9 from 3-point range and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line. The Rebels went 19 of 24 from the charity stripe.

Gabriella Cortez scored 16 points to lead Louisiana-Monroe (2-6), which was limited to 30 percent shooting from the field.

Ole Miss had 20 steals and forced 31 turnovers, scoring 29 points off of them. Louisiana-Monroe was held to six points or less in every quarter but the third and went 0 for 8 from the field in the fourth.

Ole Miss will stay home Wednesday to take on Oregon. Tip is set for 6 p.m.