No. 5-seed Ole Miss Dominates No. 12-seed Ball State, Advances to Round of 32 Showdown with Baylor
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss women’s basketball team never looked back after taking an early first-quarter lead, overpowering the Ball State Cardinals 83-65 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Round of 32.
BALLED Out. #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/X5qgtbHWvS
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 22, 2025
The Rebels have now won to three consecutive Round of 64 matchups under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.
First half
Ole Miss won the opening tip but could not get a shot to fall early, missing all three of their shots in the first minute and a half. Ball State capitalized with Ally Becki leading the way in a 7-0 start for the Cardinals.
Starr Jacobs and Tameiya Sadler then put the Rebels on the board, but a Madel Bischoff triple made it a 10-4 Ball State lead three minutes into play. Multiple Rebels then got involved to help Ole Miss take the lead during a 9-0 run. The Rebels never trailed again after taking the lead here.
Block and the BUCKET 🪣@ThienouSira | @IAMMADISCOTT pic.twitter.com/37x53py3S1
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 21, 2025
A pair of free throws for the Cardinals ended the run but the Rebels did not stop there, ending the first quarter on another run, this time 8-0 to help end the first quarter with a 21-12 lead.
Ball State struggled to find its rhythm in the opening quarter as the Ole Miss offense surged late. The Rebels’ defense forced multiple turnovers, with Kennedy Todd-Williams knocking down a three-pointer late in the quarter to extend the lead.
The second quarter saw more of the same as Jacobs and Todd-Williams scored four quick points to extend the Ole Miss lead to double-digits.
After Becki and Alex Richard finally cut the Rebel lead back down to single digits late in the first half, Ole Miss answered with another 8-0 run over the span of three minutes highlighted by back-to-back buckets for Madison Scott and Christeen Iwuala‘s first bucket of the game.
Madi Scott is MONEY 💰
She knocks down three straight buckets!@IAMMADISCOTT | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/rJRynh00ka
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 21, 2025
Despite Ball State’s attempts to close the gap, the Rebels’ defense held firm to end the half. A late jumper by Becki provided a bit of a momentum killer for Ole Miss, but the Rebels were in full control with a 37-23 lead at the break.
Ole Miss forced nine first half turnovers, scoring eight points off of them compared to zero for the Cardinals. Jacobs led the way for Ole Miss in the first half with nine points and five boards. Scott added another eight points while Todd-Williams added seven points and a team-high eight boards.
Second half
Just as they did in the first half, the Rebels scored early and often. A 6-0 run to begin the second half anchored by Scott and Jacobs pushed the Ole Miss lead to 43-23 before Marie Kiefer ended the run for Ball State.
Right place. Right time.
Give her the AND ONE.@Starr7Jacobs | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/OtETAujcJ3
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 21, 2025
Over the next three minutes, the Rebels went on a 9-2 run that was led by Todd-Williams. The senior guard notched a double-double near the mid way point of the third. Ole Miss lead by 25 with just under five minutes to go in the quarter.
GIVE HER A DOUBLE-DOUBLE 👏👏@Ktoddwilli | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/EWy950G66m
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 21, 2025
After three points for Bischoff, Jacobs and Kharyssa Richardson answered and increased the Rebel lead to 56-30. It was another 9-2 run in the making capped off by Scott increasing her game total to 13.
Trailing 61-32, the Cardinals turned to Becki and Keifer to cut into the deficit. Despite a 7-3 run to end the third quarter for Ball State, the Rebels took a 64-39 lead into the final 10 minutes. Jacobs was also on the brink of a double-double with a team-high 16 points and nine boards at the end of the third.
Yanna drains the threeeee 👌@yanna__20 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/HL9lyuXRlp
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 21, 2025
Jacobs and Scott drained four free throws in the first three minutes of the final quarter for Ole Miss, but it was three-straight misses to begin the fourth for the Rebels. A pair of triples for Becki and Lachelle Austin followed by free throws for Austin allowed Ball State to narrow the deficit to 68-49.
The Rebels then went on a 10-4 run over the next three minutes led by Iwuala knocking down a pair of free throws and a jumper. Becki and Austin continued their efforts for the Cardinals but it was a 21-point lead for Ole Miss with just over two minutes left to play.
A Beauty 😍@Kharyssa33 ➡️ @ChristeenIwuala pic.twitter.com/bARbRPLMep
— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 22, 2025
Coach Yo emptied the bench, allowing some of her younger players such as Helosia Carrea and Rhema Collins to score some buckets in the NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss dominated in the paint, outscoring the Cardinals 46-28. The Rebels also grabbed 17 offensive boards to Ball State’s six.
Todd-Williams and Jacobs both finished with double-doubles, tying for the team-high in boards with 11 apiece. Jacobs led the way in scoring with 18 points, shooting 6-7 from the field. Scott added 15 points while Todd-Williams added 14 more for Ole Miss.
Up next
Team 50 will advance to the Round of 32 where they will take on the 4-seeded Baylor Bears on their home floor in Waco, Texas. The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 23, with tipoff time still to be determined.
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.
