Mississippi Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Vanderbilt
In a thrilling matchup in Birmingham, Alabama, the 17th-ranked Mississippi women’s basketball team triumphantly defeated the fifth-ranked Vanderbilt squad, ending the game with a score of 83-75 on Friday evening. Initially set to take place on Thursday at the Ole Miss campus, the game’s location was moved due to adverse weather conditions involving ice.
Key Performers
Cotie McMahon shone brightly during the contest, netting 27 points, while her teammate Christeen Iwuala bolstered the team with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds. This duo was instrumental in helping Mississippi establish a strong 44-25 lead at the halftime break, largely fueled by their combined scoring output of 25 points.
Conversely, the Commodores struggled significantly in the second quarter, managing only 10 points and converting just 3 of 12 shots, which contributed to their sluggish first-half performance characterized by 12 turnovers and merely 10 field goals overall.
Vanderbilt’s Comeback Attempt
However, Vanderbilt started to bounce back during the third quarter, achieving a remarkable shooting percentage by sinking 11 of their 17 attempts and maintaining only two turnovers. This resurgence included an impressive 11-point contribution from Mikayla Blakes, closing the gap to 60-51.
Final Quarter Drama
As the final quarter unfolded, Vanderbilt took a brief lead for the first time since early in the match, at 67-64, after Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda executed a crucial three-point play with 5:56 left on the clock. Nevertheless, Ole Miss quickly countered, launching a 7-point scoring streak that turned into an 11-3 run, ultimately securing a 75-70 advantage with just under two minutes remaining.
To seal the victory, McMahon, alongside Debreasha Powe, made four consecutive free throws in the closing moments, marking the Rebels’ sixth straight win over Vanderbilt.
Game Statistics and Future Matches
Other notable contributions for Ole Miss came from Latasha Lattimore and Kaitlin Peterson, who added 12 and 11 points, respectively. With this result, Ole Miss improved to a record of 18-4 and 5-2 within the Southeastern Conference.
On the opposing side, Vanderbilt saw their star player Blakes shine with a commendable 29 points, supported by Aubrey Galvan with 18 points and Mwenentanda with 11. Despite the loss, Vanderbilt maintains an impressive 20-2 record and sits at 6-2 in conference play, marking the best start for the program through 21 games since their run to the Final Four in 1992-1993.
Looking ahead, Vanderbilt is scheduled to host Florida on Sunday, while Ole Miss will remain in Birmingham to challenge Auburn on Monday.
