This year’s Egg Bowl of basketball, at least on the women’s side, took place on Sunday afternoon with Ole Miss handing Mississippi State a 93-68 loss in Oxford.
The No. 18 Rebels were led by four players scoring in double digits – Cotie McMahon (21 points), Sira Thienou (20), Latasha Lattimore (17), and Christeen Iwuala (14) – to help Yolette McPhee-McCuin’s group notch a 56% clip from the field, compared to the Bulldogs’ 41% mark.
“We really wanted to come out and make sure we play high-level basketball. What we want to do is change the narrative. When I think about Ole Miss, and this is my eighth season, I feel like we’ve always got to do two times more than everyone else,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Really grateful for team’s buy in, the staff’s buy in, and I think the best is yet to come.”
Ole Miss (16-3, 3-1 SEC) jumped out to an early 14-4 lead four and a half minutes into the game, and while Mississippi State closed to within 21-17 at the end of the first quarter, a strong second quarter put the Rebels up 50-35 at halftime. They outscored the Bulldogs 43-33 in the second half.
Only three starters scored for Mississippi State (14-4, 1-3), which has now lost three straight SEC matchups: Madison Francis (15 points), Favour Nwaedozi (14), and Destiney McPhaul (12). Chandler Prater scored 15 points off the bench, as Nwaedozi grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season.
Ole Miss controlled the box score, leading in free throws, assists, points in the paint, and forced turnovers.
Next up
Ole Miss: The Rebels will travel to play Georgia on Sunday. Tipoff is 11 a.m. CT.
Mississippi State: The Bulldogs will host No. 7 Vanderbilt on Thursday. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. CT.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
