Rebels fight off Florida in intense overtime road win

21 minutes ago Ole Miss Athletics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Despite trailing by as many as 16 points in the first half, Ole Miss women’s basketball fought through adversity on Thursday night from Exactech Arena to come back to defeat Florida, 77-67. Highlighted by the career-high night of Madison Scott with 27 points, the Rebels earned its seventh program overtime road win against the Gators.

With the trio of Scott, Marquesha Davis and Kennedy Todd-Williams leading the way, Ole Miss (17-7, 7-4 SEC) fought off Florida (13-10, 4-7 SEC) in its first overtime game of the season and third overtime win under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.

Taking over for the Rebels, Scott tallied a career-high 27 points while proving dominance off the glass with 12 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season and 25th of her career. Scott is now one away from moving to a tie for eighth in Ole Miss history.

Piecing together her fifth 20-point performance of the season, Davis tallied 22 points and snagged 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the year. Adding 18 points, Todd-Williams also grabbed nine rebounds to tie her season-best.

Forcing a season-best 26 turnovers, Ole Miss also bullied Florida off the glass totaling 55 rebounds for a margin of 28 over the Gators. Tyia Singleton also set a season-best mark for herself, with 12 rebounds.

From the jump, Florida took off on a 9-0 run until a step-back jumper from Davis put Ole Miss on the board. As the Rebels struggled to hit shots, their defense kept them within distance of the Gators despite trailing 19-9 through the first quarter.

Holding the Gators to a multi-minute scoring drought early in the second quarter, along with a 7-0 run, cut the Gator lead to single-digits with five minutes remaining before the break. Back-to-back buckets from Ole Miss in the final minute closed the separation with the Rebels down 34-26 at the half.

Pulling within four in the early minutes of the third frame, Ole Miss found itself closing in on Florida after trailing by as many as 16 in the first half. A Scott jumper in the paint kept the Rebels humming along in their comeback efforts, forcing a one possession game. Turnover woes plagued Ole Miss, as Florida’s hot hands behind the arc kept it in the lead by five at 50-45.

Battling in the paint, Ole Miss forced a one possession game with 7:21 remaining. As both teams faced scoring droughts, a layup from Scott created a two point game under two minutes. A deep-two from Todd-Williams tied the game even at 60 all. Yet another jumper from Scott gave Ole Miss its first lead of the day at 62-61 with under 30 seconds left in regulation. As Florida hit an and-one to retake the advantage, it was Davis with the jumper at the buzzer to force overtime for the first time this season.

Hitting overtime, it was all Ole Miss as the takeover from Davis, Scott and Todd-Williams continued and the Rebels locked it down on defense. Only allowing three points in overtime, a 13-3 run from Ole Miss lifted it over Florida, 77-67 for its fifth straight win over the Gators.

The Rebels travel back to Oxford for their second meeting of the season against Mississippi State on Sunday (Feb. 18). Ole Miss is on the hunt to respond against the Bulldogs with a 3:00 p.m. CT tip, streaming on SEC Network +.