OXFORD — Senior Tia Faleru had 19 points Sunday to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career in the Ole Miss women’s basketball team’s 91-38 victory against Mississippi Valley State at Tad Smith Coliseum.
Faleru entered the game needing 18 points to join the 1,000-point club. At the 9-minute, 13-second mark of the second half, the Ozark, Alabama, native joined the club with a pair of free throws. She is Ole Miss’ 26th 1,000-point scorer and the first since Valencia McFarland topped the mark during her junior season in 2012-13.
“I was just focused on playing,” Faleru said. “I was not looking to see how many points I had. I usually do not know how many points or rebounds I have until after the game, but it was a great feeling. I never thought that I would come to college and be the person and player I am today. Hard work will get you there.”
Ole Miss (2-0) trailed for 30 seconds in the game. It built a 25-point lead in the first half and never looked back en route to its 10th-straight win against MVSU.
Freshman Shandricka Sessom led all scorers with 21 points. Kelsey Briggs added 12. Sessom led Ole Miss on the boards with a game-high nine rebounds.
Ole Miss forced MVSU into 46 turnovers, which marks the first time since the 2006-07 season Ole Miss has forced 40 or more in a single game. Ole Miss scored 51 points off the miscues.
Ole Miss will play host to Southern at 5 p.m. Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader with the Ole Miss men’s team, which also will face Southern.
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