Ole Miss superstar Cotie McMahon
Tonight is the night for Ole Miss women’s basketball. The 17th-ranked Rebels (21-6, 8-4 SEC) host No. 7 LSU (22-4, 8-4 SEC) inside the Sandy and Joe Black Pavilion at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Both teams are solidly in the NCAA Tournament, but tonight’s game will go a long way in determining which teams will host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Currently LSU is projected to host, while Ole Miss is projected as a No. 5 seed playing at Ohio State in rounds one and two.
THE STRETCH
This will be Ole Miss’ third consecutive game versus an AP Top 25 team in a span of six days. The Rebels suffered a whipping at Kentucky on Sunday before bouncing back in dominant style to defeat the Tennessee Lady Vols in Oxford on Tuesday. After tonight is a Sunday trip to No. 3 South Carolina in which ESPN’s College Game Day will be on hand.
SCOUTING LSU
Kim Mulkey is in her fifth season leading LSU’s women’s basketball. Under her guidance, LSU has reached new heights as a perennial powerhouse in women’s basketball, leading the Tigers to a national title in 2023.
This season has been no different, as LSU is dominating in nearly every statistical category en route to a ranking as high as No. 6 according to the Associated Press. The Tigers are ranked top 10 nationally in 13 statistical categories, including the No. 1 spot in scoring offense at 95.7 points per game. LSU’s depth is what makes it dangerous, as it also has the top bench scoring team in the country.
Its top scorer is Flau’jae Johnson, who has established herself as one of the best Tigers in program history. She began the season top 10 among active SEC players in career points, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals, the only player to make that claim. Currently, she remains in the top 10 of each with the exception of assists. She’s averaging 14.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley back up Johnson as a solid backcourt duo. They both average 13.1 points per game, while Williams leads the team in assists at 3.7 per game and Fulwiley’s 3.2 steals is tops for the team. The latter ranks No. 1 in the conference in terms of overall steals this season with 84, and 10th in the nation.
Amiya Joyner is LSU’s top rebounder, leading one of the strongest rebounding teams in the country. At 6-foot-2, Joyner is averaging 7.3 rebounds per game. She’s a solid offensive contributor as well, dropping 9.8 points per game. LSU has the best rebounding margin in the country, outrebounding opponents by 18.5 boards per game. In total, LSU is bringing down 48.7 rebounds per game.
Regarding LSU’s depth, all but one player has played in 20 games this season. Mulkey spreads the opportunity throughout her team to keep the starters fresh. LSU’s bench is responsible for 39.7 of the Tiger’s nearly 96 points per game.
PLEASE COME OUT
Tonight is one of those games that you can play a part. An intense homecourt environment is what the Rebels need…not the sparsely attended group that was on hand for the Tennessee game. Ole Miss women’s basketball is a national brand and it deserves likewise support.
Ole Miss is doing its part for tonight’s game. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to Ole Miss’ game on Thursday, as doors open 90 minutes prior to tipoff for students and 60 minutes for the general public. Students can enjoy free concessions while supplies last, along with $2.50 beer specials and an exclusive Cotie McMahon 2,000 Point poster. The game will also feature a pink jersey giveaway, sip chains, and pink poms to honor Play4Kay. At halftime, survivors will be recognized in a special ceremony, followed by a performance from NPHC featuring 52 performers representing all Divine Nine organizations.
WATCH/LISTEN
ON THE AIR
Television: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Beth Mowins
Color: Debbie Antonelli
Reporter: Jess Sims
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
SEC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS
| conf | cpct | overall | opct | home | road | neutral | strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 South Carolina | 11-1 | 0.917 | 25-2 | 0.926 | 14-0 | 9-1 | 2-1 | W6 |
 Vanderbilt | 10-3 | 0.769 | 24-3 | 0.889 | 14-0 | 6-2 | 4-1 | L1 |
 Texas | 9-3 | 0.750 | 24-3 | 0.889 | 16-0 | 5-3 | 3-0 | W1 |
 LSU | 8-4 | 0.667 | 22-4 | 0.846 | 11-2 | 8-2 | 3-0 | L1 |
 Ole Miss | 8-4 | 0.667 | 21-6 | 0.778 | 12-0 | 4-4 | 5-2 | W1 |
 Tennessee | 8-4 | 0.667 | 16-8 | 0.667 | 9-2 | 7-4 | 0-2 | L2 |
 Oklahoma | 7-5 | 0.583 | 19-6 | 0.760 | 12-2 | 4-3 | 3-1 | W2 |
 Kentucky | 7-6 | 0.538 | 20-7 | 0.741 | 12-2 | 7-4 | 1-1 | W2 |
 Alabama | 6-6 | 0.500 | 20-6 | 0.769 | 16-2 | 2-4 | 2-0 | L2 |
 Georgia | 6-6 | 0.500 | 20-6 | 0.769 | 11-3 | 5-3 | 4-0 | W1 |
 Mississippi State | 5-7 | 0.417 | 18-8 | 0.692 | 13-3 | 3-5 | 2-0 | W2 |
 Missouri | 4-8 | 0.333 | 16-11 | 0.593 | 9-6 | 4-4 | 3-1 | L2 |
 Florida | 3-9 | 0.250 | 15-12 | 0.556 | 12-4 | 1-8 | 2-0 | L1 |
 Texas A&M | 3-9 | 0.250 | 10-11 | 0.476 | 6-5 | 2-5 | 2-1 | W1 |
 Auburn | 2-10 | 0.167 | 13-13 | 0.500 | 9-5 | 2-7 | 2-1 | L7 |
 Arkansas | 0-12 | 0.000 | 11-16 | 0.407 | 8-8 | 1-8 | 2-0 | L13 |