Breaking: The Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball team secured a significant victory over the Mississippi State.

Breaking: The Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball team secured a significant victory over the Mississippi State.

Bulldogs, winning 85-73 in the second round of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament on Thursday night in Greenville, South Carolina.

 

The Rebels were led by standout performances from Kennedy Todd-Williams and Madison Scott, each contributing 20 points to the team’s total. Reserves Sira Thienou and Christeen Iwuala also made substantial impacts off the bench, adding 13 and 11 points respectively.

 

Ole Miss showcased efficiency on offense, shooting 52.7% from the field, 35.3% from three-point range, and 75% from the free-throw line. In contrast, Mississippi State shot 45.9% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc, and 66.7% from the charity stripe.

 

The game remained competitive throughout the first half, with Ole Miss closing the second quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 42-35 lead into halftime. The Rebels maintained their advantage in the third quarter and extended it to 69-56 early in the fourth. Mississippi State struggled to close the gap, never coming within nine points for the remainder of the game.

 

Mississippi State’s efforts were led by Madina Okot, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jerkaila Jordan also added 14 points, while Destiney McPhaul contributed 11 points off the bench. Despite their efforts, the Bulldogs were hindered by 21 turnovers, leading to 20 points for Ole Miss.

 

This victory marks the fifth consecutive season that Ole Miss has advanced to the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The Rebels have also achieved 20 or more wins for the fourth straight season, reflecting the program’s consistency and growth under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.

 

Coach McPhee-McCuin expressed her satisfaction with the team’s performance, acknowledging the added intensity of facing an in-state rival in a tournament setting. “We knew it would be hard-fought, not only because both teams want to advance, but it’s a little more personal when it’s an in-state rivalry,” she stated postgame.

 

Looking ahead, Ole Miss is set to face the top-ranked and No. 2 seed Texas Longhorns in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Rebels previously faced Texas on January 26, narrowly losing 61-58 when SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker hit a jump shot with 13 seconds remaining to erase an eight-point deficit in the final five minutes.

 

The upcoming matchup presents an opportunity for Ole Miss to avenge their earlier loss and continue their pursuit of an SEC Tournament title. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on Friday and will be broadcast on SEC Network.