Ole Miss women’s basketball marches into Baton Rouge, leaves with hard-fought victory over No. 7 Tigers

OXFORD, Miss. — Upset! Upset! Upset! If you think playing against the Rebels on Senior Night is a guaranteed win, think again! In the last game of the regular season, the Ole Miss Rebels traveled to Baton Rouge and defeated No. 7 LSU, 85-77, at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, snapping the Tigers’ 17-game home win streak.

First-half action

LSU came out strong, as senior forward Aneesah Morrow made sure to set the tone for Senior Day, scoring four quick points before a minute had passed. Staying within reach, Ole Miss made a few baskets here and there, but overall struggled to get into a rhythm offensively. Nevertheless, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s team continued to be aggressive, looking to turn defense into offense. The Rebels’ full-court press led to a few steals and turnovers from LSU, but the Tigers were quick to get back on defense, disrupting the Rebels’ transition game. Despite a slow start, Ole Miss was only down by six,19-13, at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, LSU turned up the heat on offense, making sure to have two of their best scorers involved in their offensive actions. They ran Mikaylah Williams off screens, allowing her to find open spots for midrange jumpers, three-pointers, and create off the dribble. They also looked inside for Aneesah Morrow, who delivered strong finishes at the rim and crafty moves to contribute points for the Tigers.

Fighting to stay within reach, the Rebels forced turnovers, got to the free throw line, and Tameyia Saddler delivered  two much-needed threes for her team to keep LSU from running away. Outscoring Ole Miss 25-18 in the second quarter, the Tigers took a 13-point lead into the half.

Second-half action

Holding the lead for much of the first half, LSU came out in the third quarter looking for the same success that they had in the first half. However, what they did not anticipate was the strong comeback effort from the Rebels.

A 9-0 run that lasted over two minutes at the beginning of the period energized Ole Miss and sparked a surge from the Rebels, who began hitting three-pointers, cutting and passing through the LSU’s defense, and getting and-ones.

On the defensive end, Ole Miss continued to force turnovers, take charges, and disrupt LSU’s offensive sets. With 1:08 left to go in the period, KK Deans knocked down a crowd-silencing 3-pointer, giving Ole Miss their first lead of the game.

After being down by as much as 15 earlier in the period, the Rebels had clawed their way back, now trailing by just one point at 64-63 as they entered the final 10 minutes.

As an exciting fourth quarter unfolded, Ole Miss quickly regained the lead early in the quarter, and the teams traded back-and-forth leads and ties. The game was intense, with both teams battling for loose balls, drawing fouls, and capitalizing on rebounds. Ole Miss forced LSU into uncharacteristic turnovers and offensive fouls, with the Tigers committing 23 turnovers in total—a stat that proved costly as the Rebels capitalized on nearly every mistake.

Making shots when it mattered most, Madison Scott got her first bucket of the game with her signature midrange jumper at the 2:45 mark, putting the Rebels ahead for the final time. Ole Miss held onto the lead, and Sadler delivered a dagger of a three-pointer with just over a minute left, extending the Rebels’ advantage to 81-75, their largest of the game.

Forced to foul with less than 30 seconds remaining, Aneesah Morrow, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds for her 100th career double-double, fouled out, essentially sealing the Tigers’ defeat. Ole Miss secured an 85-77 victory.

Four Rebels finished in double figures: Tameiya Sadler with 19 points, Starr Jacobs with 18 points,  KK Deans with 17 points, and Christeen Iwaula with 11 points.

For LSU, Mikaylah Williams trailed Morrow with 25 points, and Kailyn Gilbert contributed 11 points.

Final thoughts

The difference between the first and second half for the Rebels was their shift to an inside-out game, which helped them control the tempo. Ole Miss’ disciplined approach paid off, focusing on limiting LSU’s second-chance opportunities while dominating the paint with 38 points, compared to just 14 for LSU. They also outshot the Tigers from beyond the arc in the pivotal third quarter, hitting 4 threes to LSU’s 1.

Ole Miss ends the regular season 19-9 overall and 10-6 in conference play. Heading into the postseason, I believe this game has proven that Ole Miss is not a team to be underestimated. Hunger, determination, and fight have defined Coach Yo’s squad all season long. With this momentum, they are ready to make a statement in the tournament and show they belong among the best.