Madison Scott and Sira Thienou lead Ole Miss women’s basketball to road win over Mississippi State, 71-63
STARKVILLE, Miss. – (Release) Madison Scott and Sira Thienou stole the show as Ole Miss women’s basketball bested its in-state rival Mississippi State, 71-63, on Sunday afternoon in Starkville.
STATEment Made.#HottyToddy | #WeRunTheSip pic.twitter.com/qFtIvyhS0G
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 19, 2025
The Rebels (13-5, 4-2 SEC) played bully-ball in the paint to claim their win. They scored 42 points in close range against the Bulldogs (15-5, 2-4 SEC), which totaled more than half of their points. Defensively, Ole Miss forced 23 turnovers and allowed only 12 points in the fourth quarter to help clinch the victory.
Madison Scott put up a career-high 30 points against Ole Miss’ bitter rivals, draining 11 field goals in the process. That sets a career-best for the all-time Rebel as well, who reached 20-plus points for the seventh time of her career. She’s the first Rebel to drop 30 points this season, and the most recent to do so since Marquesha Davis scored 33 last season against Florida.
Sira Thienou’s defensive domination reached a new peak against the Bulldogs. The freshman robbed Mississippi State nine times for a career best. Nine steals by a Rebel is the most since Armintie Price had 12 against Illinois on Dec. 2, 2006. She was the catalyst behind Ole Miss’ 16 steals in the game, their 13th time with 10-or-more steals this season.
Since the beginning of conference play, Thienou has recorded 29 steals for an average of 4.8 per game. Additionally, Thienou added 10 points and a team-leading four assists against Mississippi State.
Making ’em pay 😌
This is Sira’s 13th game in double-figures!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/MKM2r4IjE7
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 19, 2025
Starr Jacobs and Kennedy Todd-Williams joined Scott and Thienou in double-figures. Jacobs scored 15 points en route to her fifth-consecutive game with 10-plus points. She paced the team with eight rebounds, six of which came from the offensive glass. Todd-Williams’ 11 points marked her 13th game this season in double figures.
After falling into an early 10-point deficit, the Rebels stormed back into a one possession game in the first quarter with a 7-0 run. The Rebels scored four field goals in four attempts as Scott took charge. The senior leader notched eight points in the quarter, playing all 10 minutes. The resurgence of the final five minutes of the quarter propelled the Rebels to within one point of the lead entering the second quarter.
Scott continued to put points on the board in the second quarter, reaching double figures for the 10th time this season. Scott drained a three to keep the hot hand alive and gave the Rebels their first lead of the day. Ole Miss’ defense stepped up in the second, allowing only nine points from MSU. It’s the lowest the Bulldogs have scored in a second quarter this season, as the Rebels built a 34-29 lead at the conclusion of the first half.
After the intermission, Scott continued her scoring frenzy, scoring a quick jumper eight seconds into the third followed by a driving layup at the eight-minute mark. Those two baskets allowed her a season-high, and an and-one conversion put her at 20 points for the first time this season. The Rebels and Bulldogs went back-and-forth in the scoring, with Ole Miss ultimately holding a narrow 53-51 lead going into the fourth.
HAVE A DAY MADI 🗣️
She has a new season-high with 20 points and counting! @IAMMADISCOTT | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/RI4YAJ9M7v
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) January 19, 2025
As the clock began in the final 10 minutes of action, Scott, Jacobs and Todd-Williams summoned the rest of their strength to put the game away. After Mississippi State tied the game once more at 61, the three-player tandem combined to score eight unanswered points to put Ole Miss up for good. The Rebels would maintain that eight-point lead to win the game, 71-63.
The Rebels enter their bye week on a two-game winning streak. Ole Miss will get rested up and prepare to face No. 7/7 Texas at the SJB Pavilion on Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
