(NOTE: This article was published on the official website of Southeastern Conference (SEC) on Saturday, November 18, 2023)
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – In its first game at Battle4Atlantis, Ole Miss women’s basketball put on a show overcoming multiple deficits to defeat Howard, 67-54 on Saturday from Imperial Arena. Madison Scott led the Rebel effort, with a career-high tying 21 points and added 14 rebounds.
Trailing by seven midways through the second quarter, Ole Miss (2-1) clawed its way back in a highly contested matchup over Howard (1-3) to advance to the Battle4Atlantis Semifinals. Scott matched her career-best with 21 points and was instrumental for Ole Miss, along with Marquesha Davis with 12 points and four rebounds. As a team, the stuck together defensively with six blocks.
Kennedy Todd-Williams started off hot with two straight buckets, while Davis assisted the Rebels in growing their lead while getting knocked around in the paint by Howard. Ole Miss utilized scoring on the inside to snag an early 17-13 lead through the first 10 minutes.
Howard began the second quarter on an 11-0 run to grab its largest lead to date of the game, up by seven. Closing the gap with back-to-back Scott layups, Ole Miss held the Bison scoreless for over three minutes while working to make up ground. The Rebels met the Bison at 28 all, while Scott led Ole Miss to 30 points as a team to head into the locker room tied at 30.
Shooting woes ensued for the Rebels, beginning the third quarter 1-of-8 from the field. Scott and Davis kept the Rebels within striking distance until Ole Miss grabbed the lead once again at 41-40. Highlighted by key shots at the charity stripe, Ole Miss ended the quarter on a 4-0 run to go up 48-43.
The Bison refused to give up, with a 6-0 run early in the fourth to even the game once again at 54. That last run by the Bison proved to be enough for Ole Miss, as the Rebels took off on a 13-0 run and held Howard scoreless for over three minutes to seal its victory 67-54.
The Rebels advance to the Battle4Atlantis Semifinals, tomorrow Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. CT against the winner of Arizona vs. Memphis. Tomorrow’s matchup can be streamed on FloHoops.
