Ole Miss under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin had a chance to win her first game against a Top-10 opponent inside the SJB Pavilion when the Rebels hosted the No. 7 Texas Longhorns in SEC play.
The Texas Longhorns, who would play from behind most of the game, took the lead late in the game and would never relinquish it, beating the Rebels 61-58.
Texas center Taylor Jones took control of the game late, finishing with 24 points to help the Longhorns, 20-2 (6-1 SEC), get a road win over the Rebels, 13-6 (4-3 SEC), inside the SJB Pavilion.
Texas head coach Vic Schaefer, who coached Mississippi State to a Final Four appearance, was complimentary of the Rebels and the physical play. "I think we've got the right pieces. I think this team has a chance. I have to tip my hat to them. This team can be really good,” he said following the win.
The Longhorns would outscore Ole Miss 13-2 in the final five minutes and held the Rebels scoreless for the final four minutes of the game.
"Elite teams find a way to win. If we want to be elite, we have to do that. We have to go back and watch film,” Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said after the loss.
The last time the Rebels won at home against a Top-10 opponent was on January 21st, 2016, when they defeated No. 9 Kentucky 73-65.
Ole Miss had the game in control at the 5:37 mark of the fourth quarter, leading the Longhorns 56-48, but Taylor, along with Mississippi native Madison Booker making the jumper with under a minute to go, put the Longhorns on top for good.
Booker cemented the win by intercepting the in-bounds pass with no time remaining.
GREAT SCOTT!
Graduate forward Madison Scott, fresh off her recent 30-point performance against Mississippi State, paced the Rebels again with 17 points and two rebounds. It’s been a great run for the Indian Head, MD native.
The record night against Mississippi State was the first time a Rebel had scored 30 points since Marquesa Davis scored 33 points against Florida last season.
FRESHMAN FIREBALL
It was another big day for freshman guard Sira Thienou, finishing with 12 points and her 14th double-digit scoring game this season.
The native from Bamako, Mali (Shining Star Academy) has been a terrific addition to the roster, named SEC Freshman of the Week twice this season. Thienou is the first Rebel to score this many double-digit games since Valencia McFarland during the 2010-2011 season.
UP NEXT:
The Rebels will travel and face Georgia on Thursday night in Athens at 5:00 CT tipoff time. The Bulldogs, 9-11 (1-5 SEC), are currently 14th in the conference.