Ole Miss had no answer for the Chelsea Dungee in her previous game against the University of Arkansas. Razorbacks could say the same about trying to stop Shakira Austin from the rebels on Thursday night at the Southeast Conference Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC
Austin dominated within the painting and the No. 11 seeded rebels controlled the powerful Arkansas attack to disrupt the No. 13 Razorbacks 69-60 and avenge a defeat in the regular season two weeks ago.
The 6-5 junior scored the highest record of his career, 29 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and defeated the Razorbacks.
The Rebels (11-10) interrupted the Razorbacks’ five-game winning streak and now advance to face Tennessee in the quarterfinals at 7:30 tonight.
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors said Ole Miss turned the tables on the Razorbacks, who arrived with an offer for the NCAA Tournament already on the stock exchange. The Rebels were the team that played with a lot of desire to prolong the season.
“We found a team that was playing with a lot to play for and a lot of energy,” said Neighbors, whose team had a drop in points this season. “I didn’t do a very good job of preparing them for what they looked like. This group has been coming here for the past two years with this kind of hunger. This night was against us and it is what happens in these things.
“Ole Miss was very, very focused. They hindered our offensive performance, obviously, with a score of seven points in the first quarter and we fought hard all night from that point on.”
Austin, who moved from Maryland, almost equaled the 17 points she scored in the first game of the first half. She finished with 16 points in the first half out of 5 out of 8 shots. Austin also scored three blocked shots and had three assists.
Neighbors said Austin’s athletic build and length gave Razorbacks attacks all night.
“They can protect you,” said the neighbors. “Their big daughter can protect her guard. If she gets out of the draft, she will be chosen as high because she can defend from one to five and she can play from one to five. That’s what makes her so special.
“It really made our tracks difficult. We were a little frustrated at times and I thought at first that we took some pictures that were a little unusual, because we were a little frustrated. Their defense was unbelievable.”
The rebels recovered their breath thanks to the 8-0 delay. Austin’s jump gave Ole Miss a 65-55 lead with 3:43 remaining. But Dungee ended a scoring drought of more than four minutes with a 3-point wing basket. Arkansas failed in two 3-point attempts to get closer and Ole Miss went on to a frustrating victory.
Austin scored four consecutive points at the start of the fourth period, giving Ole Miss a 57-52 lead and led by six with 4:42 remaining. Arkansas missed five of its first six shots in the fourth period and never recovered.
Dungee led Arkansas (19-8) with 22, but Ole Miss held the 5-11 senior red shirt for just 9 of 24 shots after she destroyed the Rebels for a 38 season record two weeks ago.
Destiny Slocum added 13 points and Amber Ramirez 10 for the Razorbacks.
Dungee said the Razorbacks’ shots were simply not falling. This is completely opposite to the end of the Arkansas regular season, when it hit the SEC and program record with 19 points out of 3 points in a 94-76 victory over Alabama. The Razorbacks played only 7 out of 31 trios against the rebels.
“I wouldn’t say that we couldn’t find our rhythm,” said Slocum. “We took great pictures. I think we got great pictures. Tonight, they weren’t falling.
“I can’t say much. I think we have a lot to work on, to grow. I wouldn’t say it is something to define us. We will use it as fuel, obviously.”
The rebels also took advantage of the free throw line, making it 18 out of 21. Arkansas, who shot and made the most free throws in the country this season, made 9 out of 15.
Ole Miss led by up to eight in Snudda Collins’ 3-point game in the middle of the third quarter, but Arkansas made a 7-1 jump to get within two. At 3 points from Slocum in the horn of the third quarter pulled the Razorbacks in 53-52.
Arkansas started an icy 2-for-20 on the ground and lost by up to 10. The Rebels led 17-7 after a quarter. It was the fourth with the lowest score for the Razorbacks of the season.
But Arkansas heated up in the second quarter. The Razorbacks hit 7 out of 10 shots in a 15-3 run to grab a 24-22 lead over Slocum with 3 points, with 4:42 remaining in the first half. However, that would be the only clue of the night for the Razorbacks.
Jacorriah Bracey drained a three to give the rebels back the lead. Bracey’s bucket started an 11-4 spurt to end the time – including Austin’s eight – and led 33-28 at the break.
Arkansas will now have to wait until the selection Monday on March 15, when bidding for the NCAA tournament will be delivered.