The Longhorns dodge a disaster as Ole Miss’ comeback falls short

Texas women's basketball hosted the Ole Miss Rebels at the Moody Center yesterday as they tried to improve from their first SEC game of the season this past Thursday. I could definitely tell a difference in the pace and shot selection from the Longhorns in the first half as they were making quality shots out of the gate. The Longhorns would go on to beat the Rebels, 67-64, and advance to 2-0 in the SEC conference.

While Texas did some great things, there are areas they need to improve on. For instance, they shot some three-pointers that they didn't need to. If Texas had made an extra pass or two, they could have gotten an uncontested layup at the rim. I was really impressed by how the ladies came out firing on all cylinders in the first quarter of the game.

Let's take a look at four takeaways from yesterday's win against the Rebels.

1. A lot better start than Thursday

Today's start was a whole lot better than the start against Mizzou. The Longhorns were taking great shots from beyond the arc and consistently making them. It allowed them to take a 21-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. That's the start the Longhorns need to have against teams like South Carolina and possibly Tennessee. Great effort by the ladies to put the Rebels in an early hole at the Moody Center.

2. Jordan Lee continues to be a problem for other teams

Jordan Lee is starting to become a real threat in the SEC, and I'm loving it. It helps take the pressure off Madison Booker and Rori Harmon as the primary offensive options for the Longhorns. After her performance against the Ole Miss Rebels, I'll be interested to see if other teams in the SEC start to cover her more aggressively. If they don't start covering Lee like she's a franchise player, the SEC is going to be in for a long season.

3. Actually happy it wasn't a blowout

I was actually happy that the Longhorns didn't get into a runaway game until the second half. It allowed for Texas to work on being focused during close games. Think of the first half yesterday as a practice drill for late fourth-quarter scenarios. Texas was able to stay focused on the task at hand and defend home court against the Rebels. Every possession will count when it gets to the SEC Tournament and March Madness.

4. Things got a bit intense down the stretch

I really thought I was going to have to delete most of this article and start over as the fourth quarter progressed. I have to give credit to the Rebels for sticking with it and not giving up until the final buzzer.

The ladies are back in action at the Moody Center this Thursday as they host the Auburn Tigers.