Luke Dunavant
The Lady Rebels defended their house against rival Mississippi State on Sunday, Feb. 18. The Bulldogs came into the game hungry for a win, but the Rebels denied them with a score of 75-71, seizing victory in overtime. This is the second straight game in which Ole Miss has gone into overtime, something that Coach Yo does not want to make a habit of.
The leading scorer of the game was point guard/forward Madison Scott, who put up a massive total of 20 points with nine rebounds and three assists. Scott elevated the Lady Rebels to this win, but the game was won by the effort and determination of the entire team.
First Half:
The Rebels ended the first quarter in the lead, and the quarter was largely dominated by guard Marquesha Davis. Ole Miss ruled the boards, having 10 rebounds in the first quarter alone. After the first quarter, the Rebels looked ready to enforce their will the rest of the game. The story of the second quarter was the emergence of guard Kennedy Todd-Williams, who put up 10 points to close the half and brought Ole Miss to a 38-32 halftime lead.
The Rebels played freely and in control for the majority of the first half, continuing their rebounding dominance with 20 rebounds to close the half. That being said, it was not all sunshine and rainbows in the first 20 minutes: The team struggled from deep, shooting 33% from three. Despite this, Ole Miss clearly showed that they were determined to win the game from the onset.
Second Half:
The Rebels started off the second half a bit sloppy, with Davis having two turnovers almost right away, allowing for easy baskets by Mississippi State. Ole Miss quickly turned it around, however, stopping the Bulldogs dead in their tracks. This second half was more of a back-and-forth affair than the first, as both teams took turns building leads. Mississippi State came to hold a three-point lead going into the final quarter.
The Bulldogs started to pull away to start the fourth, but the Ole Miss refused to quit. The Rebels were down by two points with four seconds left on the clock when Scott made a clutch layup to tie the game. After a Rebel stop on the other end, this shot became the basket that forced overtime.
Each team went back and forth yet again until the final minute of overtime, in which the Rebels dominated the Bulldogs. At this point, it was quite obvious that Coach Yo’s squad would pull it out, and they did. The Rebels went on to secure the win with a few clutch free throws, winning 75-71.
Implications:
It seems like every game matters more and more this time of year, and that is because they do. March Madness is right around the corner, and stacking up wins is more important than ever. The selection committee cares about who you beat and when you beat them. By avoiding being swept by Mississippi State, Ole Miss essentially kept itself alive in the March Madness race.
The Lady Rebels and the Lady Bulldogs are fighting for similar positions in the big dance, so this game was a huge blessing for Ole Miss. With a couple of games left in the season, and the SEC tournament looming, it feels like Ole Miss is in control of its own destiny — as long as they keep winning, an at-large March Madness bid seems inevitable.
Who’s Next:
The Lady Rebels will look to their next game against Georgia at home this Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6:30 p.m. Ole Miss has a chance to sweep Georgia, who they beat in Athens earlier this season. It is the “must win” portion of the season, so Coach Yo and the team must take care of business.
