Minnesota beats Ole Miss in NCAA tournament thriller

Amaya Battle hits game-winning shot to send Gophers to Sweet 16 for first time in 21 years

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:49pm

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Amaya Battle hit a tiebreaking jump shot with 0.7 seconds left, lifting Minnesota past Mississippi 65-63 in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament on Sunday. The win sends the No. 4 seed Gophers to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 21 years, in front of a raucous home crowd at The Barn in Minneapolis.

Why it matters

Minnesota's victory over Ole Miss in the NCAA tournament showcases the program's resurgence under coach Dawn Plitzuweit, as the Gophers reach the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005. The thrilling finish also highlights the growing popularity of women's basketball, with the Gophers' home court providing an electric atmosphere for the big win.

The details

Battle, a senior guard, took the inbound pass near the paint, dribbled out along the baseline, and then turned to hit the game-winning jumper. The Gophers had rallied from a late deficit, with Mara Braun hitting a tying 3-pointer in the final minutes. Minnesota's defense also came up big, forcing a key shot-clock violation by Ole Miss in the closing seconds before Battle's heroics.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
  • Minnesota is heading to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2005.

The players

Amaya Battle

A senior guard for Minnesota who hit the game-winning shot to send the Gophers to the Sweet 16.

Dawn Plitzuweit

The head coach of the Minnesota Gophers women's basketball team.

Cotie McMahon

A senior transfer and leading scorer for Ole Miss, who fouled out late in the game.

Yolett McPhee-McCuin

The head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball team.

Mara Braun

A Minnesota player who scored 17 points, including the tying 3-pointer late in the game.

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What they’re saying

“I have never been in an environment that was that loud, ever.”

— Dawn Plitzuweit, Head Coach, Minnesota Gophers

“It was all in our hands. I feel like in the first half, we just didn't want it. We put ourselves in the position that we got put in.”

— Cotie McMahon

“I'm not discrediting their play, with an awesome shot by the Battle kid at the end, but their fans won them that game. You couldn't hear. Just an incredible environment.”

— Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Head Coach, Ole Miss Rebels

What’s next

Minnesota will face the winner of Monday's game between No. 1 seed UCLA and No. 8 Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16 in Sacramento, California.

The takeaway

Minnesota's thrilling victory over Ole Miss in the NCAA tournament showcases the growth and passion of women's basketball, with the Gophers' raucous home crowd playing a key role in the team's first Sweet 16 appearance in over two decades.