MOBILE, Ala. – Ole Miss got ahead early and South Alabama could not overcome the deficit, falling 41-64 to the Rebels Monday night at the Mitchell Center.
 
A balanced attack from the Ole Miss Rebels proved to be too much for the Jaguars, as three Rebels finished in double figures, with two more adding eight points.
 
Rachel Leggett led the Jaguar attack with 12 points and four rebounds, going 2-for-2 from behind the arc, the second multi-three game of her career.
 
Kiana Anderson finished the night with seven rebounds, leading the team for the third time this season in boards. Anderson also added two blocks, the second time this season she has led the squad in that category.
 
The size of the Rebels proved to be too much for the Jaguars, as Ole Miss out-rebounded South Alabama 52 to 32, with South Alabama's mark being a season-low.
 
Marquesha Davis paced the Ole Miss attack with 12 points, followed by Madison Scott with 11 and Kennedy Todd-Williams with 10. Nine Rebels scored in the contest, while 12 saw action.
 
GAME FACTS

• Ole Miss opened the game with a 10-2 run before Emani Burks scored South's first points of the game with four left in the first quarter.
• South then put up four quick points but still trailed the Rebels 12-6 with three left to play.
• South got one more basket to end the first quarter, down 16-8.
• The Jaguars kept the Rebels lead to a steady 10 throughout the second quarter, trailing 14-25 with four minutes left in the first half.
• Ole Miss led 31-19 at the half.
• South opened the third quarter with five quick points, but the Rebels answered with four of their own to maintain an 11-point lead with seven left in the third quarter.
• Ole Miss maintained a 10-point lead through the third quarter, up 42-32 with three left in the third quarter.
• Ole Miss took their largest lead of the game so far with eight left in the fourth, up 53-35.
• Ole Miss hit a scoring drought late in the fourth, but South was not able to capitalize, still down 41-58 with three left to play.
• Ole Miss took a 21-point lead with two left to play, up 61-41.
• South Alabama closed the game with a scoring drought, falling 41-64.  

 
NOTES

• Rachel Leggett led the Jags for the second time this season.
• Kiana Anderson finished with seven rebounds, the third time this season she has led the Jags in boards.
• Leggett hit two threes, the second multi-three-pointer game of her career.
• South Alabama brought down just 32 rebounds, a season-low.
• Just eight Jags saw action in the loss.

QUOTABLE
Head coach Yolisha Jackson:
On the effort from the team:
"I was really proud of our guys tonight for always competing. We told them to keep coming, and we did. We spotted them 10 points to start the game, which didn't work out in our favor, but there was never a point in time when I looked at the kids and we looked defeated. They believed in what we were doing, and they continued to fight. We talked about it in the locker room, but there is no one else on our schedule who is as big, as athletic and defends like Ole Miss does, so this game prepared us for the games in conference play where there is pressure. Really proud."

On Rachel Leggett:
"She has been phenomenal. We missed her during those two games when she was hurt. She is a kid who when I came in, she was not confident but just wanted to work and get better. That kid has worked and watched film and gained confidence, and her teammates have confidence in her. Rachel didn't start playing organized basketball until ninth grade, so her best basketball is ahead of her."

On preparing for LA Tech:
"We talked about two stats. We talked about our fouls, we committed 20 fouls and they took 23 free throws, that is something we have to do a better job of. The other thing is offensive rebounds. They got 23 and we got 11 and they scored 24 to our six off second chance. Against an SEC top 30 team in the country, you can't do that. Those are the two things we will look at. One of the things that has been a model of this team is we will try our hardest to not lose two in a row.  We are ready to get back to work tomorrow."

 
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