Ole Miss takes on Georgia Tech in WNIT

Tia Faleru is the only unanimous first team selection by the AP. (Photo credit: Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics)

History will be made when Ole Miss tips off against Georgia Tech in the second round of the 2015 Postseason WNIT Tournament Sunday, as it will be the first time ever for the two to meet on the hardwood.

The game will be played at the Tad Smith Coliseum and is set for a 6:00 pm start time.

Ole Miss (18-13) defeated UT-Martin 80-70 in the first round of the tournament for the Rebels’ first postseason win since 2008-2009. Notable in the win, Rebel freshman Kelsey Briggs scored a career-best 19 points and had six rebounds, tying her career high.

Head coach Matt Insell notched his 30th career win with the victory over UT-Martin. He has led Ole Miss to 18 wins in just his second year with the Rebels. Coach Insell took over an Ole Miss team that had finished the year prior to his arrival with a record of 9-20; in a mere two years, he has turned the program around to one that has  produced 18 victories and a postseason berth.

Rebel team notes

The Rebels are led by Senior forward Tia Faleru, the only unanimous first team selection by the AP. Faleru averages 14.6 points per game and 10.1 rebounds per game and has scored in double figures in 27 of the Rebels’ 31 games this season. Erika Sisk averages 9.1 points per game, followed by six Rebels who average 6.0 points or more. Danielle McCray and A’Queen Hayes average 5.0 and 4.3 rebounds per game, respectively.

As a team, Ole Miss is averaging 65.0 points per game while holding opponents to 62.9 points per game.

This week, Coach Insell previewed the matchup with Georgia Tech:

Scouting the Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech (19-14) defeated Elon, 69-47, in the first round WNIT game on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets have won five of their last six games and have four players who average in double figures. Kaela Davis leads the team with 19.5 points per game (ppg), while Aaliyah Whiteside and Sydney Wallace average 13.3 and 13.1 ppg, respectively. Zaire O’Neil is adding 11.3 ppg.

The Yellow Jackets’ rebounding efforts are led by Roddreka Rogers who averages 9.5 boards per game. Georgia Tech has four players who average at least five rebounds per game. As a team, the Yellow Jackets average 72.5 ppg and 42.3 rebounds per game.

Common opponents

Ole Miss and Georgia Tech shared two common opponents this season: Georgia and Grambling. Georgia Tech split with the two, losing to Georgia and defeating Grambling. Ole Miss, on the other hand, grabbed wins over both.

What’s at stake

If Ole Miss wins Sunday, the team will advance to the third round of the WNIT. It would be the second postseason win for the Rebels this season and the most for the team in a single WNIT appearance.  And in a side note, should the Rebels advance to the third round, they would face the winner of Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State, meaning they could possibly see a rematch of Insell vs. Insell!

Hotty Toddy!

(Featured image courtesy of Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics)