On3 Things to Know: Red-hot Ole Miss Rebels vying for eighth straight win at Texas A&M

Ole Miss will look to extend its hot streak and claim the first 4-0 start in SEC play since 2007 when the Rebels travel to Texas A&M on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

The Rebels (14-2, 3-0 SEC) are riding a seven-game win streak and have won nine of their last 10. Among the wins was their first win over in-state rival Mississippi State in Starkville in 15 years. They easily dispatched of Vanderbilt, 74-53, on Thursday.

Texas A&M lost both meetings with Ole Miss last season, though the Aggies hold a 10-4 advantage in an all-time series that dates back to 1995. Texas A&M leads the series 9-3 since joining the SEC.

Ole Miss’ win in College Station last season was the first ever for the Rebels in Reed Arena.

“Every day I learn something different about this team,” Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said following the win over Vanderbilt. “Every day. What’s consistent is they want to win. They want to be successful for themselves, for the university and, No. 1, their teammates.”

Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming matchup, in game notes provided by Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations.

SCOUTING THE AGGIES

Joni Taylor last offseason made the cross-SEC jump from Georgia to Texas A&M to replace retiring legend Gary Blair as Aggie head coach.

Taylor has had a rough go of things so far, as her Aggies enter play 5-8 (0-3) on the season and losers of four straight. All five of their wins have come at home, including their last win (SMU, 57-49) on December 18.

To be fair to Taylor, she rosters second-youngest team in the conference. Texas A&M is paced offensively by freshman Sydney Bowles. She’s made 22 threes on the year, and she’s also averaging 9.0 points per game.

Aliyah Patty is the team leader in rebounds with 7.5 per game.

LAST TIME OUT

Angel Baker rode a 20-point first-half heater to help Ole Miss beat Vanderbilt in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1986 and 1987 seasons.

Madison Scott added 17 points to set a new-career-long six-game streak of scouring in double figures. Ole Miss once again lit up a third quarter (21 points) to move to 3-0 in SEC play for the first time since 2007, when the Rebels won 24 games and reached the Elite Eight. Those Rebels raced out to a 5-0 mark in SEC games, before ultimately going 9-5.

DYNAMIC DUO

The duo of Angel Baker and Madison Scott was solely responsible for all 17 points the Rebels scored in the first quarter against Vanderbilt. The pair finished with a combined 39 points, their most in a single game in two seasons together in Oxford.

JUNIOR JUMPS

If math never lies, Scott and fellow junior Snudda Collins made significant strides in the offseason and heading into their third seasons as Rebels.

Collins: 2021-22: 5.9 ppg | 2022-23: 11.3 ppg | 91.5 percent increase

Scott: 2021-22: 9.6 ppg | 2022-23: 11.6 ppg | 20.8 percent increase | 2021-22: 6.0 rpg | 2022-23: 9.1 rpg | 31.8 percent increase

ODDS AND ENDS

Ole Miss is off to its best home start since 2016-17, as the Rebels have won each of their first 10. They have four undefeated seasons at home in program history. Ole Miss is No. 19 in the nation in offensive rebounds. The Rebels are averaging 15.6 per game. … Scott, the team leader in rebounds (9.1 rpg) has secured double-digit rebounds in four of the last seven games. … Ole Miss is No. 7 in the nation in scoring defense. The Rebels, on average, are holding teams to just 52.3 points. They’re No. 9 in defensive field goal percentage (33.9). … Ole Miss is 14-0 when holding its opponent to 60 points and under. … The Rebels have out-rebounded eight opponents by a 15-plus margin this year — their most in a single year in the last 20 seasons.

UP NEXT

Ole Miss on Thursday will continue its two-game road swing with its first trip to Georgia in two years. The Rebels have played three of their last four away from Oxford.

The Bulldogs are in their first season under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. Ole Miss last won in Athens in 2010. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network +.