The Ole Miss Rebels have returned to their roots, embracing their identity as disruptors on the court. After an impressive win over the No. 2 Vanderbilt Commodores, they now prepare for a challenging matchup against Vic Schaefer’s No. 3 Texas Longhorns in the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament semifinals this evening.
The Series
This upcoming clash marks the 11th meeting between Ole Miss and Texas, with the Longhorns leading the series 9-1 since its inception in 1981. The Rebels’ only victory came back in 1988 when they triumphed over Texas with an impressive score of 88-67 in Oxford.
Last season, these two teams met for the first time as SEC rivals, where Ole Miss put up a strong fight but fell short with a narrow loss of 61-58 despite Madison Scott and Sira Thienou’s standout performances.
Earlier this season, another closely contested game saw Ole Miss narrowly lose again to Texas by just three points (67-64), highlighting that every encounter is hard-fought and competitive.
Last Game Recap: A Statement Win Over Vanderbilt
In their last outing, Ole Miss showcased a dominant performance against Vanderbilt, winning decisively at 89-78. This victory not only advanced them to the semifinals but also marked their seventh consecutive win over the Commodores—a remarkable feat dating back to 2022.
Latasha Lattimore led all scorers with an astounding 28 points while shooting an impressive 92.3% from the field. Cotie McMahon contributed significantly as well, scoring 27 points and dishing out seven assists—a season-high for her.
The Rebels’ offensive prowess was evident as they reached their third-highest point total ever in SEC Tournament history while also recording five assists shy of tying for most assists in a single conference tournament game.
Scouting the Longhorns
Under head coach Vic Schaefer’s leadership, who is now in his sixth season at Texas, the Longhorns have become one of college basketball’s elite programs. With a stellar record of 173-39 during his tenure and entering Saturday’s game with a record of 29-3, Texas has proven itself formidable this season.
Texas boasts several statistical strengths: they rank top ten nationally in multiple categories such as scoring margin (4th), scoring offense (7th), and field goal percentage (5th). Junior Madison Booker leads this talented roster, averaging nearly 19 points per game along with solid rebounding and assist numbers.
Rori Harmon stands out as one of Texas’ key players; she holds program records for assists and is known for her defensive capabilities—averaging nearly three steals per game. Together with Booker, they form an incredibly effective duo that has helped guide Texas to numerous victories throughout their careers together.
As Coach Yo prepares her team for this high-stakes semifinal showdown tonight at Bon Secours Wellness Arena at 6 PM CT—broadcast live on ESPN2—the Rebels are focused on staying true to their signature style: dictating pace and disrupting opposing offenses.
With both teams having faced each other recently and knowing what’s at stake, we can expect an intense battle filled with strategic plays and fierce competition on both ends of the court.
Can Ole Miss continue its disruptive ways? Will they manage to take down another highly ranked opponent? One thing is certain: it will be an electrifying match that could redefine expectations heading into postseason play!