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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
7-3,0-0SEC
South Alabama
3-6,0-0Sun Belt
No. 22 Women’s Basketball Routs South Alabama in Highest-Scoring Game of the Season
12/15/2024 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – No. 22 Ole Miss women’s basketball remains undefeated at home after defeating South Alabama, 94-39, at the SJB Pavilion on Sunday afternoon.
Ole Miss’ (7-3, 0-0 SEC) 94 points is the most this season and the highest by a Rebel squad since Nov. 14, 2021, against Mississippi Valley State, where they also tallied 94. Tying for the third-most points in the coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin era, Ole Miss has now put up at least one 90-point performance in six consecutive seasons.
The Rebels’ 55-point victory over the Jaguars (3-6, 0-0 Sun Belt) is tied for the tenth-widest in program history. The Rebels scored at least 20 points in each quarter for the second-straight week and scored no less than 22 against the Jaguars. This is the third time this season that the Rebels have breached the top 10 in largest margin of victories, winning by 65 points against Alabama State and by 61 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff earlier in the year. Entering this year, the only other time a Rebel team has achieved this feat was during the 1982-83 season.
Ole Miss’ defensive prowess was on full display against South Alabama. The Jaguars were held to under 40 points for the first time since Dec. 31, 2022, against Southern Miss, and it’s their widest margin of defeat since Nov. 11, 2016, when Florida bested the Jaguars, 88-33. Ole Miss recorded 15 steals, marking the ninth time this season in double figures for that category. South Alabama also committed 30 turnovers, the second-most forced by Ole Miss this season.
Ole Miss saw several strong performances against South Alabama, highlighted by yet another monumental performance from Sira Thienou. Thienou scored a career-high 23 points for the Rebels, on an efficient seven-of-eight from the field and a near-perfect seven-for-eight from the free throw line. She is the first Rebel freshman to reach the 20-point mark since 2020. Thienou also tacked on a pair of three pointers and seven rebounds in 30 minutes of action.
:rotating_light: New career-high for Sira :rotating_light:
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) December 15, 2024
5-6 FG
17 Points (& counting)@ThienouSira | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/mnTwRhstpa
On her birthday, Tameiya Sadler had one of her best performances as a Rebel. The Vallejo, California, native tied a career-high eight assists while robbing the Jaguars with a career-best four steals. Sadler eclipsed the 200-assist mark of her overall career and sits at 205 after Sunday’s dominant win.
Gotta pop off on your birthday :tada:
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) December 15, 2024
Tameiya tied her career-high in assists (8) and also had a season-high in steals (4). #HottyToddy | #NoCeilings pic.twitter.com/grNHk9KPut
Starr Jacobs scored 15 points and brought down seven rebounds. Jacobs and Thienou led the team in that category, which is the eighth time done so this season by Jacobs and first for Thienou. Christeen Iwuala and Rhema Collins rounded out the double figure scorers, reaching 10 a piece. It’s the second consecutive game for Collins in double figures, after setting a career-high 12 against Tennessee State.
Sadler opened the game on a high note with a strong first quarter. She had two steals in two straight possessions for the Rebels and turned her first steal of the day into a fastbreak layup, kickstarting some early momentum for Ole Miss. Sadler later drained a three-pointer in the quarter to give the Rebels a six-point lead.
After a tight battle in the first period, the Rebels shutdown the Jaguars in the second quarter, outscoring them 23-3. South Alabama made only one field goal in the quarter and gave up 10 turnovers. Jacobs and Thienou had seven and six points in the quarter, respectively, both shooting three-for-three from the field. The Rebels went into the locker room with a 45-19 halftime lead.
Rebs ended the first half on a 22-2 run :fire:
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) December 15, 2024
Bring onnn the second half :bangbang: pic.twitter.com/Nil7F3paAx
Iwuala headlined the third quarter, scoring six points on three unmissed field goals. Iwuala had an opportunity for a three-point play after she was fouled in the act of shooting. Sadler had her first three assists of the game in the third quarter, which put her at 200 total in her overall career.
Sadler and Collins paired up to put the Jaguars away in the fourth quarter. Sadler’s five assists in the quarter are an individual season-high for the Rebels. Collins scored eight points in the fourth, connecting on each of her first four shots. The Rebels effectively prevented the Jaguars from breaking 40 points with a block from Collins, who knocked down two free throws in the waning moments to fashion the final score of 94-39.
Ole Miss will remain at home to face Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 21. The game against the Devilette’s will be broadcast on SEC Network+ with tipoff set for noon.
New season and single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball season are on sale now. To purchase or learn more about buying season or single-game tickets for women’s basketball, click here or contact the Ole Miss Athletics ticket office.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Gallery: WBB vs. South Alabama
