Ole Miss beats Mississippi State to advance in SEC Tournament, inches closer to clinching host seed
The present and the future of Ole Miss women’s basketball was on full display Thursday and it possibly helped bring postseason basketball to Oxford.
A rematch with 10 Seed Mississippi State awaited the 7 Seed Rebels in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina. After getting only one game during the regular season this was one both teams were looking forward to.
Similar to that meeting in Starkville back in January, senior forward Madison Scott made sure the result was bringing a win back home. Ole Miss did just that in a 85-73 win over the Bulldogs to advance to its fifth straight SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
The Rebels will take on 2 Seed Texas on Friday at 5 p.m. CT to try and reach Saturday’s semifinals. Ole Miss nearly had the upset in Oxford back in January, losing to the then No. 7 Longhorns by three points.
Scott and senior guard Kennedy Todd-Williams led all scorers with 20 points each. Freshman guard Sira Thienou continued her breakout season with 13 points and five rebounds.
The effort might have helped seal a top-four host seed and bring NCAA Tournament basketball back to Oxford for the first time in 31 years. Though that will have to wait to be official for another 10 days on Selection Sunday.
“It means everything. It’s March. This is my last go-round, our last go-around We want to go as far as we can, as long as we can,” Scott said. “This is the time to do it. We’re going to give it our all, push, let the chips fall where they fall.
Top 10
- 1New
SEC Tournament
Bracket set for SEC men's hoops
- 2Trending
Bruce Pearl
Defends Baker-Mazara after ejection
- 3
Nate Oats
Fires shot at Auburn, Baker-Mazara
- 4
Kim Mulkey
Moves spotlight away from family death
- 5Hot
Bracketology update
Alabama, Kentucky on the move
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“The opportunity to host in Oxford, in front of the Oxford community, means everything to us. That’s why we gave everything in this game. We wanted it to be an opportunity we could go after. We’re just excited to continue to attack, continue to get wins in March. Continue to dance.”
In a game where Ole Miss (20-9) did not get a double-digit lead until the fourth quarter it was a yet another fight against the in-state rival in the series storied history.
But this time the Rebels emerged the victor for the third straight time and sixth time in the last eight games against Mississippi State.
As is the usual blueprint for victory with a Yolett McPhee-McCuin team, defense dictated and disrupted. The Rebels caused 21 Mississippi State turnovers and scored 20 points off of them. Ole Miss used 12 steals to allow its transition offense to thrive.
The aggression on the offensive end was noticeable, too. The Rebels attempted 28 free throws, converting 21 of them. They also completed seven And-1 chances.
