Ole Miss Women’s Basketball Routs Arkansas on the Road

OXFORD, Miss. – Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t you just LOVE how the Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team is dominating right now? I know I do. As someone who has played inside Bud Walton Arena, I can tell you firsthand that the constant chants of “Wooo Pig Sooie” can rattle any team. Yet, the Rebels made it look easy with an 89-50 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last night.

Coming off Monday’s upset victory over Kentucky, the Rebels picked up right where they left off. Arkansas scored the first points of the game, but it was the only lead they would have all night. After a couple of empty possessions, Kennedy Todd-Williams got the Rebels on the board, and from there, Ole Miss never looked back. A 9-2 run to start the first quarter was just the beginning, giving Ole Miss the early momentum to control the pace of the game.

Defensively, Ole Miss applied full-court pressure to start. Madison Scott, the first of many tasked with guarding the SEC’s leading scorer, Izzy Higginbottom, made her presence known. While Higginbottom managed one early field goal off a steal and transition jumper, Scott and company’s smothering defense forced her into difficult shots. Higginbottom had to rely on drawing fouls to get to the line, where she went 4-for-4 — her only free throws of the game. With their star tightly guarded, Arkansas turned to other scorers, but Ole Miss held firm. By the end of the first quarter, the Rebels led 22-11.

Arkansas opened the second quarter with a quick 8-5 run, sparked by Carly Keats’ back-to-back buckets. But Ole Miss quickly adjusted, responding with an 11-0 run heading into the media timeout. Everything seemed to go the Rebels’ way. Sadler, Todd-Williams, and Deans knocked down shots from beyond the arc, while Iwaula and Scott dominated inside. The Rebels’ defensive pressure forced Arkansas into a scoring drought that lasted over five minutes. One of the highlights of the quarter came when Scott blocked a three-point attempt and finished with a wide-open fastbreak layup. A 23-4 run gave Ole Miss a commanding 48-23 lead at halftime.

The Rebels kept their foot on the gas in the second half, starting the third quarter with a straight-line drive and layup from Sira Thienou. Arkansas tried to keep up, trading baskets briefly, but Higginbottom struggled to find her rhythm against the defensive pressure. Ole Miss’ ball movement created open shots, clear driving lanes, and highlight-worthy assists. Midway through the third, Scott secured her fourth career double-double against Arkansas, adding to the three she recorded in past matchups with the Razorbacks. Meanwhile, the Razorbacks went scoreless for the final 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the quarter, allowing Ole Miss to take a 71-33 lead into the fourth.

In the final quarter, Ole Miss showcased their depth. Even with the core group of starters off the floor for most of the period, the Rebels did not miss a beat. They continued to make an impact on both ends, with big blocks on defense and buckets on offense. Mariyah Noel sank the Rebels’ 10th three-pointer of the game, setting a new game high for the season. Late in the game, Arkansas managed a 7-0 run, but it was too little, too late. Ole Miss secured a 39 point victory, 89-50.

The Rebels shot an impressive 49% from the field, 47% from three, and finished with 22 assists, 53 rebounds, and 45 points off the bench. Tameiya Sadler led Ole Miss with 17 points, KK Deans added 15, and Scott recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Todd-Williams also contributed 10 points, and 13 Rebels found their way into the scoring column. Arkansas’ Higginbottom led all scorers with 18 points and was the only Razorback in double figures.

Ole Miss played exceptionally well, knocking down shots from all areas of the floor while sharing the ball beautifully. Their defense allowed them to get stops and force turnovers, turning Arkansas’ scoreless trips into offensive execution which allowed them to build and maintain a substantial lead. The energy was high on and off the court, smiles were everywhere, and the Rebels looked like they were having fun — exactly how it should be!

Next Up

Ole Miss looks to carry this momentum into their next tough road test against No. 15 Tennessee. The Rebels will face the Lady Vols in Knoxville on Sunday, February 16th, at 11 a.m.

Go Rebs!