Gamer: Marquesha Davis helps lead Ole Miss women’s basketball past Florida, 81-70
OXFORD, Miss. – The SJB Pavilion played host to the Marquesha Davis show Thursday night as the Ole Miss Rebels defeated the Florida Gators, 81-70.
See ya later alligator 👋 pic.twitter.com/M7gFHiMJmQ
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
First Half
Coming off a win on the road in Georgia, the Rebels started hot Thursday night versus the Gators. Snudda Collins broke things open early, cashing in on a 4-point play to add on to their 10-0 run.
SNUDDA THREE…
AND ONE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/fvZkQLKOu0
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
Despite the quick start from the Rebels, Florida eventually had answers in the back end of the first quarter. The Gators scored 10 in just over three minutes to bring their deficit within single digits.
However, Rebels’ freshman point guard Zakiya Stephenson took a charge in the last minute of the first, giving the Rebels the momentum back. The freshman then hit a step-back three as the quarter came to a close with Ole Miss leading 28-14.
Z FOR THREEE 👌 pic.twitter.com/zwIe1KxRNq
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
Despite a stellar performance from the freshman, Coach Yo was visibly upset with Stephenson at one point during an Ole Miss timeout. Stephenson spoke about it postgame.
“At the moment, I was just trying to block it out because I didn’t want it to get to my head. I just took it as she wanted me to do good,” Stephenson explained on her encounter with her head coach in the third.
A handful of Rebels were contributing in the scoring department, but leading scorer Marquesha Davis was the first Rebel in double digits. Davis reached 10 points in just nine minutes, midway through the second quarter.
Que now has entered double figures!
This is her fifth straight game scoring double figures 🔥
Q2 4:33 | Ole Miss 38 | Florida 21 pic.twitter.com/rWlCrUgtZp
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
The Rebels are averaging just 66 points per game this year, which is second-to-last in the SEC. But at the half Thursday night, Ole Miss already had 48 as they held onto a 20-point lead.
Davis led the Rebels with 13 at the break, while Kennedy Todd-Williams was having an all-around game, herself, with 5 points, 5 boards and 5 assists.
There she goes again…
Que can’t be stopped! pic.twitter.com/IyIsDdWqjG
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
Second Half
As the second half began, both squads struggled from the field for a majority of the third quarter. The Rebels experienced turnover and foul problems through the first five minutes, turning it over six times and fouling the Gators five times.
Scoring just 14 points in the third quarter, Ole Miss was still sitting comfortably in the lead at the start of the fourth with a 62-45 lead.
The fourth quarter began and Davis continued her impressive performance. The senior scored her first basket of the quarter to bring her total to 19 on the night, dancing on her defender before sinking a jumper.
Que has left us speechless 🤯@MarqueshaDavis | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/0qnP0RCbsm
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
Davis spoke postgame about her signature ‘crossover-stepback’ move. “It’s just a move I have always worked on. It’s always been my favorite move,” she explained.
Todd-Williams and Madison Scott eventually hit double digits as well for the Rebels. The senior pair both knocked down free throws midway through the fourth to increase their totals to 10.
.@IAMMADISCOTT for 2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/RzvUEoC8LQ
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 26, 2024
Ole Miss had a much different second half offensively after scoring 20+ in both quarters in the first half. The Gators saw the Ole Miss lead shrink to just 9 points in the fourth, only to watch as the Rebels pulled away again in the last minute.
“The emphasis was to guard heavily, in the beginning. That went out the door in the third and fourth quarter…We just have to grow, we have to be able to handle success and keep it. It kinda just unraveled in the third and fourth…we had an emphasis to really suffocate Florida and you saw that in the first half.”
~ Coach Yo on the second-half defensive performance
Davis led Ole Miss in scoring, finishing with 23 points on a 10-for-14 shooting night. Scott added 16 points and Todd-Williams nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, 9 boards and 8 assists.
Up Next
Coach Yo and the Rebels will be back at home in the Pavilion Sunday to host the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Tipoff is set for 2 pm CT on ESPN.
Kameron Wicker
Kam is a senior at Ole Miss, currently pursuing a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. In his free time, you can find him watching sports or at the rec participating in them.
