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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Monday, December 22
Cherokee, N.C.
6:30 PM
Ole Miss
12-2,0-0SEC
49
vs
66
Michigan State
11-1,0-1Big Ten
1
2
3
4
F
Ole Miss
12
8
12
17
49
Michigan St.
12
14
23
17
66
Women’s Basketball Falls to Michigan State
12/22/2025 | Women's Basketball
CHEROKEE, N.C. – No. 15/14 Ole Miss women's basketball dropped its match against No. 24/23 Michigan State, 66-48, Monday evening in the championship round of the Cherokee Invitational in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Cotie McMahon was Ole Miss' (12-2, 0-0 SEC) top scorer, finishing with 13 points. She has tied former Rebel Shandricka Sessom's most recent longest streak of starting a season with double-digit points. She's scored at least 10 points in all 14 games this season and has proven to be a valuable addition to the Rebels offensively. Three Spartans (11-1, 0-0 Big Ten) had double-digit points in their win.
The first quarter saw the two teams go back-and-forth with 2-point buckets and free throws. Neither team made a shot from beyond the arc despite seven combined attempts. McMahon was Ole Miss' top scorer of the quarter, scoring half of Ole Miss' points. Christeen Iwuala contributed as well, scoring four and picking up a block and a steal. The score was tied at 12 after the first 10 minutes.
McMahon scored four quick points in the quarter, reaching 10 points for the game. By the five-minute mark, both teams had only scored six points apiece in the quarter, as neither could find an offensive rhythm. The Spartans managed to take a three-point lead with under three minutes remaining, which they continued to push going into the half. The first half ended with Michigan State ahead, 26-20.
Sira Thienou opened the third quarter by rebounding her own shot and converting an and-one, her first points of the game. To that point in the game, she had picked up eight rebounds. Debreasha Powe drained a three to answer a Michigan State long ball, but Ole Miss still struggled to find sustained offense. Instead, the Spartans scored seven unanswered points to finish the quarter up 49-32.
The fourth quarter was much the same as the preceding 30 minutes. The Rebels were able to put up the most points in the quarter of the game with 17, coming from six different players. Thienou made a three and hauled in her 10th rebound of the game, her second time reaching double-digit rebounds in a game this season. However, Ole Miss' defense continued fouling Michigan State and giving it free throw opportunities, which the Spartans did not miss. The final two minutes saw layups from Denim DeShields and Christeen Iwuala, but the game ended with a final score of 66-49.
Up next, Ole Miss is back at home for the nonconference finale against Alcorn State on Dec. 28. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SECN+.
Single game tickets for the 2025-26 campaign are on sale now. Click here to secure yours today or visit OleMissTix.com.
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.
Cotie McMahon was Ole Miss' (12-2, 0-0 SEC) top scorer, finishing with 13 points. She has tied former Rebel Shandricka Sessom's most recent longest streak of starting a season with double-digit points. She's scored at least 10 points in all 14 games this season and has proven to be a valuable addition to the Rebels offensively. Three Spartans (11-1, 0-0 Big Ten) had double-digit points in their win.
The first quarter saw the two teams go back-and-forth with 2-point buckets and free throws. Neither team made a shot from beyond the arc despite seven combined attempts. McMahon was Ole Miss' top scorer of the quarter, scoring half of Ole Miss' points. Christeen Iwuala contributed as well, scoring four and picking up a block and a steal. The score was tied at 12 after the first 10 minutes.
McMahon scored four quick points in the quarter, reaching 10 points for the game. By the five-minute mark, both teams had only scored six points apiece in the quarter, as neither could find an offensive rhythm. The Spartans managed to take a three-point lead with under three minutes remaining, which they continued to push going into the half. The first half ended with Michigan State ahead, 26-20.
Sira Thienou opened the third quarter by rebounding her own shot and converting an and-one, her first points of the game. To that point in the game, she had picked up eight rebounds. Debreasha Powe drained a three to answer a Michigan State long ball, but Ole Miss still struggled to find sustained offense. Instead, the Spartans scored seven unanswered points to finish the quarter up 49-32.
The fourth quarter was much the same as the preceding 30 minutes. The Rebels were able to put up the most points in the quarter of the game with 17, coming from six different players. Thienou made a three and hauled in her 10th rebound of the game, her second time reaching double-digit rebounds in a game this season. However, Ole Miss' defense continued fouling Michigan State and giving it free throw opportunities, which the Spartans did not miss. The final two minutes saw layups from Denim DeShields and Christeen Iwuala, but the game ended with a final score of 66-49.
Up next, Ole Miss is back at home for the nonconference finale against Alcorn State on Dec. 28. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be streamed on SECN+.
Single game tickets for the 2025-26 campaign are on sale now. Click here to secure yours today or visit OleMissTix.com.
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.
Team Stats
UM
MSU
FG%
.333
.490
3FG%
.118
.625
FT%
.520
.650
RB
32
37
TO
20
22
STL
7
7
Game Leaders
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G/F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballHIGHLIGHTS: Women's Basketball vs Michigan State (12-22-25)
Monday, December 22
PRESSER | Yolett McPhee-McCuin - Postgame vs. Michigan State (12-22-25)
Monday, December 22
PRESSER | Yollett McPhee-McCuin - Postgame vs. Old Dominion (12-21-25)
Sunday, December 21
PRESSER | Latasha Lattimore - Postgame vs. Old Dominion (12-21-25)
Sunday, December 21