Starr Jacobs’ Double-Double Propels Women’s Basketball Over Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Release) Ole Miss women’s basketball earned its fifth-straight win over No. 23/23 Vanderbilt on Sunday afternoon, 76-61, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn.

The Rebels (15-6, 6-3 SEC) relied on its frontcourt duo of Starr Jacobs and Madison Scott, who scored 24 and 16 points, respectively. Ole Miss held Vanderbilt (18-5, 5-4 SEC) to its second-fewest scoring performance of the year, which is only topped by the Rebel’s first game against the team earlier this season.

For Ole Miss, it’s the first ranked win since defeating No. 5 Stanford on March 19, 2023, and the first SEC ranked win since taking down No. 24 Arkansas on Jan. 29, 2023. It’s head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s 11th victory over a ranked opponent in her tenure in Oxford.

Rebels secure the UPSET‼️

Ole Miss take down No. 23 Vanderbilt, 76-61 🙌#NCAAWBB x @OleMissWBB pic.twitter.com/4dcXvrueDQ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) February 2, 2025

Jacobs shined for the Rebels, scoring 24 points and shooting 12-of-13 from the field against the Commodores. She recorded the 29th double-double of her career after hauling in 10 rebounds, splitting the offensive and defensive totals. It’s her third time reaching double-double marks with Ole Miss this season.

Make that 2️⃣2️⃣ points for Starr ⭐️

That is a new season high for her! @Starr7Jacobs | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/dtCP5T68ei

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) February 2, 2025

In the first quarter, Scott accrued her 600th made field goal of her career. She finished the game with six rebounds alongside three assists. Scott has reached double-figure points in four straight games, making at least six field goals in each of those games.

The Rebels opened the game by making four of its first five field goals, with four of the Rebel starters contributing to the scoring outburst. Opposite the Rebels, they held the Commodores to no field goals for a three-minute blip without a made basket midway through the quarter. Defense headlined the remainder of the quarter, as Vanderbilt made only one field goal, which led to a one-point lead for Ole Miss entering the second quarter.

Ole Miss held Vanderbilt stars Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre to one and eight points, respectively, in the first half. Vanderbilt made only seven field goals in the half, making 28% of its shots, while Ole Miss made over half of its shots in the first 20 minutes. Ole Miss defensively dominated Vanderbilt in the first half, holding the Commodores to only 21 points in the first 20 minutes, marking 22 points below the team’s average in points scored in a half this season.

Jacobs began her day by making her first five field goals of the game. She finished the half with double-figure points for the 13th time this season, which is the third-most on the team.

Ole Miss capitalized off Vanderbilt’s 10 turnovers in the first half, putting 10 points on the board. The Rebels out-passed the Commodores in the first half, holding Vanderbilt to only two assists in the first 20 minutes. The Rebels held a 32-21 lead at the conclusion of the first half, after they held the Commodores to only 10 points in the quarter. That’s the fewest point total that Vanderbilt has scored in any quarter in a SEC game this season.

We Defend ‼️

Vandy scored only 🔟 points in the second quarter, making it the fewest points they’ve scored in any quarter this season in SEC games! pic.twitter.com/lb2lQeaj1h

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) February 2, 2025

Christeen Iwuala utilized her physicality to put the Rebels up further in the third quarter. Likewise, Mariyah Noel made her presence known on both ends of the court, converting a fastbreak layup after blocking a shot on the other end. Iwuala, who also drained a tough layup in the quarter, and Noel’s performances off the bench helped catapult the Rebels to a 57-41 lead entering the fourth. Iwuala scored two field goals, as Scott and Jacobs contributed three a piece, with the trio making a combined eight shots without missing one.

Jacobs continued to make her shots in the fourth quarter, notching three field goals for six total points. The Rebels held off the Commodores in the fourth to secure their 15th win of the season, as Sira Thienou made a pair of field goals to help fashion the final score of 76-61.

Next Up

The Rebels return home to face SEC newcomer No. 13/12 Oklahoma on Thursday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on SECN+.