Shea Ralph’s Ejection Sparks 37-Point Fourth Quarter in SEC Tournament Loss
Photo by Noelle Iglesias/SEC
Commodores Receive Spark to Build On from Shea Ralph’s Fire
GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball team came into Greenville, S.C., as the No. 2 seed with a double bye, looking to move on to Saturday. However, they would have to face an Ole Miss program that has had their number and who have now handed them two of their four losses this season.
Starting slow is something the Commodores have faced several times this season, and today was not just slow but unlike any we have seen this year. Starting with a 23-2 deficit deep in the first quarter before a Justine Pissott three with 32 seconds left was not what any of us expected.
Mikayla Blakes finishing the first half shooting 0-for-10 was something we haven’t seen either. Ole Miss was playing her as tough as they were allowed to play her. Some things were overlooked by officials, but all in all that is Ole Miss’ brand of defense, tough and physical.
This game was all Ole Miss’ and looked like they would run away with this one for sure after leading 49-17 heading into the half and maintaining a lead of at least 24 heading into the fourth quarter.
However, with 9:25 to go in the game and Ole Miss up 65-43, coach Shea Ralph lit a spark in this team, and it wasn’t from a fiery timeout speech. It was from her ejection that was totally warranted, after Mikayla Blakes was called for her fourth foul of the game.
“I wasn’t trying to get kicked out. I know where I was on the court, but I also think that at that time what I said was warranted. The action that I took was warranted, and I will stand behind that,” Ralph said.
Sometimes, a coach has to stand up for her players and her team, and tonight was a perfect example of those situations. When Blakes dove for a loose ball and Ole Miss’ Jayla Murray fell on top of her, official Roy Gulbeyan called it on Blakes.
That was the moment Ralph decided enough was enough, and she received a technical foul and ejection for coming out on the court and challenging the official.
That sparked a fire in the team, and the Commodores turned it into a 37-point fourth quarter after being almost non-existent the first three quarters. Then we saw for just those nine minutes or so, the Commodores team we know them to be.
Ralph is proud of the response and the way they had each other’s backs in those moments.
“When I went back into the locker room, I was able to turn the TV on. I think what I saw from my team was maybe the coolest thing that’s happened all year, in terms of the fight they showed, the togetherness, the huddles. Just the way they responded was special.”
Sacha Washington took the spark and helped lead the charge in that quarter. She added nine points in the quarter to finish with 16 on the night with eight rebounds. Washington knew there was nothing else that she wanted to do but fight for the team and the coach that fights for them.
“Coach Ralph comes in and fights for us everyday. So, when she got ejected, I knew personally I didn’t want to do anything but fight for her.”
Photo by Todd Van Emst/SEC
She wasn’t the only one fired up. Mikayla Blakes, who had endured a tough night, went on to finish with 24 points after 13 fourth-quarter points, and Aubrey Galvan added 12 in that quarter as well to finish with 18.
The Dores, of course, fell short in this one, 89-78, but maybe tonight provided a much-needed spark for the NCAA Tournament. This is a team that still has everything in front of them to achieve. They just have to carry that spark from the beginning of the game and all the way through.
Going into the tournament with a 27-4 record, this is a team that will go in with a chip on their shoulder after tonight’s game.
