- Rebels erase 15-point deficit with 54-33 second-half scoring surge
- Tameiya Sadler triples scoring average with 19 points and 5 steals
- Aneesah Morrow becomes second NCAA player with 100 career double-doubles
- LSU suffers first home loss after 17-0 start at Pete Maravich Center
In a seismic SEC women's basketball upset, Ole Miss engineered a dramatic turnaround against seventh-ranked LSU fueled by defensive intensity and clutch three-point shooting. The Rebels capitalized on 23 Tiger turnovers to generate 27 points, with reserve guard Tameiya Sadler delivering a career-defining performance. Her five steals matched LSU's team total, while Kirsten Dean's 13-point third-quarter outburst sparked the momentum shift.
LSU faced strategic challenges without All-SEC guard Flau'Jae Johnson, whose defensive presence was sorely missed. The Tigers' senior night celebration for Aneesah Morrow turned bittersweet as her 30-point effort couldn't prevent the collapse. Mikaylah Williams' 25 points highlighted LSU's perimeter dominance early, but the team's 38-18 disadvantage in paint scoring proved decisive.
The victory solidifies Ole Miss' NCAA tournament resume, showcasing their ability to win through multiple strategies. Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin's halftime adjustments produced a 62% second-half field goal percentage, while limiting LSU to 2 fast-break points after intermission. This marks the Rebels' first Top 10 road win since 2021, providing crucial momentum entering postseason play.
For LSU, the loss exposes depth concerns ahead of the SEC Tournament. Despite securing a double bye, the Tigers' defensive lapses (15+ turnovers in 7 of last 10 games) remain unresolved. The absence of Johnson's 14.2 PPG scoring average forced over-reliance on Morrow and Williams, with other contributors combining for just 11 points.
Regional Impact: Mississippi's upset reverberates through the SEC bracket, potentially setting up a Ole Miss-Tennessee quarterfinal rematch. Louisiana sportsbooks reported 73% of pre-game bets favored LSU by 12+ points, making this the conference's most statistically surprising result since 2019.