Ole Miss Imposes Its Will, Cruises Past Gonzaga 81-66 in March Madness Opener

Note: We’re proud to partner with Realtree, who is sponsoring our Ole Miss Women’s Basketball NCAA Tournament coverage!

Realtree has long been a leader in camo apparel and outdoor gear, delivering quality products for those who love the outdoors and the lifestyle that comes with it. Be sure to check them out — and stay with us for full tournament coverage of Coach Yo and the Rebels from Minneapolis and beyond! Hotty Toddy!

MINNEAPOLIS — Ole Miss’ mantra all season has been “dictate and disrupt,” and that’s exactly what head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s team did to Gonzaga — controlling the tempo, forcing mistakes, and advancing to the Round of 32.

Final from the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament:
Ole Miss 81, Gonzaga 66.

Today’s final score brought to you by our friends at @BlueSkyOxford, @RealOxfordKrys1, #RichlandDental and #SouthernTraditionsFarm. Thank you to these sponsors for their support! pic.twitter.com/qsgvP59FQT

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 20, 2026

From the opening tip to the final horn, Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball imposed its will on Gonzaga Bulldogs women’s basketball, rolling to a commanding 81–66 victory in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

And in the process, Coach Yo’s team made a statement.

Dictate. Disrupt. Dominate.

If there was ever a game that embodied Ole Miss’ identity, this was it.

The Rebels wasted no time setting the tone, using their physicality, defensive intensity, and relentless energy to take Gonzaga out of rhythm early. What was billed as a dangerous perimeter shooting team never found consistent footing against an Ole Miss defense that closed out hard, contested everything, and controlled the glass.

By halftime, the Rebels had already created separation. By the fourth quarter, they had complete command. Yes, they let Gonzaga go on a nice run in the final period while the Rebels rested their starters. But make no mistake, the game had been over since the first half.

Experience Shows Up in March

All week, Coach Yo talked about experience — about building a roster not just with talent, but with players who had been in the tournament before, and it showed.

When Gonzaga made brief pushes, Ole Miss never flinched. There were no rushed possessions. No panic. Just poise. That maturity translated on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the Rebels attacked downhill, got into the paint, and forced Gonzaga to defend through contact. Defensively, they stayed disciplined, limiting clean looks from three — a key emphasis entering the matchup.

Ole Miss looked like the more seasoned, more battle-tested team — because they are.

Stars Shine, and the Team Wins

As has been the case all season, Ole Miss leaned on its leaders — but this was far from a one-player show. Ole Miss had four players who finished in double figures. Latasha Lattimore recorded 15, Cotie McMahon finished with 13, Sira Thienou tallied 12, and Denim DeShields added 11.

The Rebel Walk Player of the Game is Sira Thienou!

She had an outstanding performance in today’s game and was a real difference-maker. Congrats, Sira!

Our Player of the Game is brought to you by our friends at @Realtree. We thank them for their support! pic.twitter.com/7AJJRUm9P9

— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 20, 2026

McMahon continued her standout season with a performance that blended scoring, toughness, and leadership. She also broke a long-standing school record, finishing with her 33rd double-digit point game this season, breaking Ole Miss legend Peggie Gillom’s record that has stood for over four decades.

33 Double-digit point games📈
Cotie is making program history🐐#HottyToddy x #Give pic.twitter.com/kJVnSCyXba

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 20, 2026

But in addition to Cotie’s outstanding performance, what made the difference was everything around her. Rebounding. Defensive rotations. Bench production. Second-effort plays. Everywhere you looked, there was a Rebel making a winning play. That’s what separates teams in March.

With the win, Ole Miss advances and continues what is now five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances under McPhee-McCuin — and adding yet another March victory to a growing postseason résumé. They’ll play the winner of 4-seed Minnesota, the tournament host, and Green Bay.

More importantly, the Rebels sent a message to the rest of the bracket: They are not just here to participate. They are here to win. And if Friday’s game was any indication, this is an Ole Miss team that could be just getting started.

Next up: Ole Miss is one step closer to the Sweet 16 — and a chance to keep this run alive! Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk here in Minneapolis for more!