No. 5-seed Ole Miss Stuns No. 4-seed Baylor with Late Surge to Reach Sweet 16

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OXFORD, Miss. – The No. 5-seed Ole Miss Women’s basketball team forced 21 turnovers and used a dominant fourth-quarter run to defeat No. 4-seed Baylor 69-63 in the Round of 32, securing a spot in the Sweet 16 in Spokane, Washington.

TO SPOKANE WE GO 🎉🎉🎉@kkdeans | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/SqSphjDlbi

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

The win makes head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin just the second coach in program history (Van Chancellor) to win multiple second round games during their Ole Miss tenure.

First half 

The Bears won the opening tip, but the Rebels’ defense immediately disrupted and forced a turnover. Madison Scott hit the opening bucket on a second-chance opportunity and Aaronette Vonleh answered for Baylor.

Ole Miss proceeded to go on an 8-2 run over the next two minutes of play. Sira Thienou scored four early points with her aggressiveness, knocking down all of her free throws in a pair of trips to the line.

Steal and the bucket 🪣@Ktoddwilli | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/YociqMBm4f

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

However, back-to-back jumpers for Baylor’s Jada Walker and some Rebel miscues on offense allowed the Bears to tie the game at 10-10 midway through the first quarter. Kharyssa Richardson netted a beautiful hook shot to stop the 6-0 run and KK Deans shortly followed to give the Rebels some insurance. Baylor did tie the game at 14 with three minutes in the quarter but a 6-0 run that was led by another smooth Richardson bucket allowed Ole Miss to end the first up 20-16.

Thienou and Scott drained a pair of jumpers to begin the second quarter, giving Ole Miss its biggest lead of the game at 24-16. Back-to-back turnovers for the Rebels allowed the Bears to capitalize and cut the lead to five. Christeen Iwuala’s left-handed layup quieted the Baylor crowd, but Waiata Jennings knocked down a midrange shot before the media timeout where Ole Miss led 26-21.

GET UP CHRISTEEN 😤@ChristeenIwuala | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/bUc0LA1nZJ

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

Ole Miss did not score another point in the final five minutes of the half. It was the Baylor defense that disrupted the Rebel offense, forcing six turnovers in the second quarter alone. The drought for Team 50 allowed the Bears to end the half on a 10-0 run and take a 29-26 lead into the locker room.

The Rebels did force 10 turnovers for Baylor in the half, dominating the offensive boards 11-5 as well. It was the shooting drought for Ole Miss that led to the halftime deficit, shooting 17 percent (3-17) from the field in the second quarter.

Thienou led the way for the Rebels with eight points and five boards. Scott added another six points and Starr Jacobs had a team-high six boards at the break. Vonleh led the Bears in scoring with 10 points.

Second half 

The Rebels and the Bears traded buckets to begin the second half. It was Jacobs getting to the line two minutes into play, cutting the deficit to 35-31.

Ole Miss then went on a 7-3 run capped off by a Kennedy Todd-Williams triple to tie the game at 38 near the midway point of the third quarter. Tied at 40 after another bucket from Jacobs, Thienou gave the Rebels their first lead since late in the second quarter.

Toddy for threeeee 👌👌@Ktoddwilli | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/90Z7BjkltU

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

Bella Fontleroy tied it up for the Bears shortly after, and it was Darianna Littlepage-Buggs with a bucket and the foul that gave Baylor a 45-42 lead with four minutes left in the third.

Trailing by three with the third quarter draining away, Scott cut the Baylor lead to one with a pair of free throws and became the second Rebel in double digits. Thienou gave Ole Miss a 48-47 lead with a layup in transition after a turnover for the Bears. Baylor’s Walker tied the game at 48 ahead of the final 10 minutes with a free throw, making one of her two attempts.

The Rebels picked up the intensity in the fourth quarter, going on a 6-0 run and taking a 54-48 lead a little over two minutes into play. Deans made the second three-pointer of the game for the Rebels to spark the run. Vonleh finally scored to end the surge for Ole Miss, cutting the Baylor deficit to four.

Madi Scott.

That’s it. That’s the tweet.@IAMMADISCOTT | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/RSgdAd1JOn

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

Jacobs made it a five-point Rebel lead after going one for two at the line, but it was Walker cutting it down to three with a hard drive to the rim for the Bears. After a few misses for Ole Miss on the other end, Thienou scored another bucket in the paint following several offensive rebounds.

Trailing 57-52 midway through the fourth, Baylor needed a response. Sarah Andrews found the bottom of the net from behind the arc to cut the Ole Miss lead to two. The Rebels then missed an opportunity on the other end and the Bears followed with a long time out to recuperate.

The Bears did not score out of the timeout, it was the Rebel defense causing problems and forcing a shot-clock violation. The turnover was the 21st of the game forced by Ole Miss. Shortly after, Tameiya Sadler called an isolation play before drawing a double team and sneaked a pass inside to Jacobs for a wide open layup.

Walker then cut the Ole Miss lead back down to a one-possession game with another driving bucket, and a turnover for the Rebels allowed Vonleh to come right back down the floor and tie the game at 59 for Baylor. Deans and Andrews then traded buckets to make it a 61-61 game with a minute left to play.

Coming out of a timeout, Team 50 turned to Scott and the senior leader delivered for Ole Miss. The point-forward called the isolation, dribbled down to her mid-range spot and knocked down the jumper to give the Rebels the lead.

One word to describe Madi – CLUTCH.@IAMMADISCOTT | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/TSvF7tuG0J

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 23, 2025

The Bears missed a three-pointer on the other end, and Deans knocked down six consecutive free throws to ice the game. The 69-63 win for Team 50 was anchored by physicality, forcing the 21 turnovers, and winning the battle on the offensive boards 16-9.

Thienou led the way for the Rebels in scoring with 16 points. Scott and Deans combined for 27 more points, Deans scoring 11 of her 13 points in the second half. Iwuala led Ole Miss in rebounds with seven.

Up next

Team 50 will travel back home to Oxford before heading to Spokane next weekend. No. 5-seed Ole Miss will take on the winner of No. 1-seed UCLA and No. 8-seed Richmond on Friday, March 28. Tipoff time and the television slot are still to be determined.