Three Keys for No. 5-seed Ole Miss Women’s Basketball to Upset No. 1-seed UCLA in Sweet 16

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SPOKANE — The Ole Miss women’s basketball team has continuously been hit with the underdog tag, and they have thrived in the role countless times. They’ll need that same mentality against No. 1 overall seed UCLA in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday in Spokane.

Battle. Tested. #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/m90PDJnGwd

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 25, 2025

Rebels’ head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin is no stranger to wins over a No. 1-seed, and Team 50 has played with a chip on its shoulders after earning a No. 5-seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Here are our three keys to an upset win for the Rebels.

Eliminating the mismatch

Six-foot-seven Lauren Betts is a dominant presence in the post, averaging 19.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting over 64 percent from the field. Betts is undoubtedly one of the best players in the country, and it will be a challenge for Ole Miss to find ways to limit her.

Although the UCLA big was held under her point total in both losses to USC, the Bruins have proved time and time again this season that they can find other ways to win. The Rebels will need to throw various defensive looks at Betts; whether that means players like Christeen Iwuala and Madison Scott standing in front of her in the defensive post or brining in double teams from the wings with Kennedy Todd-Williams and Sira Thienou. A huge factor in guarding Betts will be staying out of foul trouble.

On the other end of the court, the Rebels will want to make Betts the player for UCLA in foul trouble early; the more minutes without her on the floor, the better. The problem is the Bruins center is averaging 2.9 blocks per game. Another main factor in limiting her will be to drift her away from that rim-protecting spot.

In the Round of 32 win over Richmond, UCLA showed some vulnerability in the paint when the Spiders began the game spacing the floor well and getting Betts away from the basket. The key for Ole Miss will be spacing the floor well to allow open lanes to the rim for attackers.

Defensive identity 

UCLA has the fifth-best offensive efficiency in the nation, averaging 78.6 points per game this season with more than enough ability to add on when needed. When the Bruins score 70 or more points, they are nearly unstoppable, surpassing that total in 27 of their 32 wins this season.

However, Ole Miss is certainly known for its defensive tenacity under Coach Yo, and the Rebels will be looking to disrupt. Ole Miss held opponents to 58.6 points per game this season; UCLA lost two games this season, both to USC, totaling 60 and 67 points in those matchups. If the Ole Miss defense can limit the Bruins offense to under 70 points, this game will come down to the wire.

After the win over Baylor in the Round of 32 last Sunday, Coach Yo told the locker room that she knew it was over when all her team had to do was get a stop. Although not victorious against USC, UConn, NC State or Texas, all of those matchups came down to the final possessions due to Ole Miss limiting good offenses.

No one needs to believe but US. pic.twitter.com/VV2e73u1MI

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 25, 2025

Be athletic

One of Ole Miss’ most talked about strengths all season has been athleticism. The Rebels sometimes thrive in an up-tempo game, using their quickness on both ends of the floor to create points off turnovers. UCLA will typically attempt to slow the game down and move the ball inside while looking for kick out passes.

Team 50 is top 20 in the nation in turnovers forced per game and fourth in the SEC, forcing 20.8 turnovers per game. The Bruins turn the ball over 15 times per game, sitting in the middle ranks of the Big 10. The Rebels will need all-out effort from players such as Todd-Williams, Thienou, Tameiya Sadler and Starr Jacobs to recreate the defensive performances from the first two rounds of the tournament.

The athleticism is also needed on the offensive end of the floor, where players such as Scott, Iwuala, and KK Deans will have the ability to exploit mismatches. Scott’s ability to play every position, Iwuala’s smooth paint skills and Deans’ quickness will need to create offense for Ole Miss over the span of the game.

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

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

With Thienou’s impressive talent and development as freshman, the hustle play style from her will play a factor on both ends. On offense, the Ole Miss guard will likely have mismatches throughout the course of the game with UCLA’s size being heavy in the front court. This is where the all-around size for the Rebels will play a huge factor as well, especially in a tight game.

Look at the freshman Sira Thienou do work out there! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Dh7Rm60MHp

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 22, 2025

Up next

Team 50 will take on the Bruins Friday, March 28, with tipoff scheduled for 9 p.m. CT on ESPN. The winner of the No. 1-seed versus No. 5-seed matchup will advance to the Elite Eight, with appearances being long overdue for both programs. The winner faces the winner of LSU and North Carolina State.