Despite a fourth-straight 20-point effort from senior guard/forward Cotie McMahon, No. 13 Ole Miss dropped its matchup at No. 21 Alabama 64-63 in Tuscaloosa Thursday night. The Rebels had played each of its two previous games in Birmingham rather than at SJB Pavilion due to inclement weather in Oxford.
Thursday’s fourth quarter had nine lead changes. Alabama’s Diana Collins hit the game-winning layup with 18 seconds to play. McMahon led Ole Miss with 22 points, and Rebels senior forward Christeen Iwuala finished with 11 points and a career-best 15 rebounds. Alabama’s Jessica Timmons led all scorers with 23 points. The loss snaps the Rebels’ (19-5, 6-3 SEC) three-game winning streak.
The Crimson Tide (20-4, 6-4) jumped out to a 10-4 lead behind five quick points from Ta’Mia Scott. A 3-pointer from Ole Miss senior guard Debreasha Powe as time dwindled down in the first quarter cut the Crimson Tide’s lead to four heading into the second. The Rebels tied the game at 18 early in the second quarter behind a pair of jumpers from McMahon and eventually took their first lead of the night on free throws from Iwuala. Alabama missed its first 12 shots of the second and shot just 3 of 18 in the quarter overall. Ole Miss led 28-25 at halftime behind 12 first-half points from McMahon.
The Rebels made four of their first six shots of the third quarter, though Alabama tied the game with just over a minute remaining in the period via free throws. A 3-pointer from Ace Austin with six seconds left in the quarter put the Crimson Tide ahead 48-47 heading into the fourth.
A free throw by Ole Miss senior forward Latasha Lattimore with 36.1 seconds remaining gave Ole Miss a 63-62 lead. Collins put Alabama ahead with 18 seconds remaining and, on the ensuing possession, McMahon was called for an offensive foul. Alabama missed both of its free throws after being intentionally fouled, giving the Rebels a final possession with just under six seconds to play. Lattimore took the inbound pass down the baseline, but her shot near the rim was off. The Rebels missed 10 free throws in the game.
Ole Miss hosts Arkansas Thursday at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network.
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