The 81-66 scoreboard doesn't show half of the defensive masterclass Ole Miss women's basketball put up in suffocating Gonzaga for four quarters straight.
Coach Yo's defense made sure it was a barn-burner at The Barn (Williams Arena) in Mineapolis , trailing the Zags as much as 32 points heading into the final quarter. But the lead isn't what makes the win special for Oxford; it's them doing the never-before in the opening salvo of a deep March run.
Ole Miss, Cotie McMahon breaks program record
Nine blocked shots in a single game — that's not just class performance, that's a three-decade-old program record shattered. Set back in the first round of the 1995 tournament against Drake, the Rebels' previous best was seven blocks.
Pair that with the fourteen steals, and Ole Miss cooked up a defensive formula that translated into a nightmare for the Bulldogs.
Cotie McMahon wrecked just as much havoc on Friday afternoon as the nine blocks. She finished with 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. Those numbers are impressive, sure, but what's more impressive is the number of times she has consistently put up excellent score like this.
Friday marked the 33rd game that McMahon has scored in double digits this season, also surpassing another program record set in the 1979-80 season.
Friday proved that the Rebels are peaking at exactly the right time. With the first round now done, the Rebels prepare to face either Minnesota or Green Bay in Round Two. It is also the only game standing between them and another Sweet 16 appearance this season.