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Ole Miss Women's Basketball Falls to No. 7 LSU
Rebels put up a tough fight but come up short against top-ranked Tigers
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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The No. 17/17 Ole Miss women's basketball team pushed No. 7/7 LSU to the limit but ultimately fell 78-70 in a tight matchup at the SJB Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi. Cotie McMahon led the Rebels with 25 points, her 17th game of at least 20 points this season. Ole Miss' frontcourt duo of Christeen Iwuala and Latasha Lattimore also had solid games, scoring 13 and 12 points respectively and grabbing 8 rebounds each. The Rebels kept the game close throughout, even taking a 13-point lead in the third quarter, but LSU's strong fourth quarter performance proved to be the difference.
Why it matters
This was a tough loss for the Rebels against a top-10 opponent, but it showed that Ole Miss can compete with the best teams in the SEC. Cotie McMahon continues to have an outstanding season, and the Rebels' frontcourt duo of Iwuala and Lattimore are emerging as a formidable presence. Despite the defeat, this game will give Ole Miss confidence heading into the final stretch of the regular season as they push for a high seed in the SEC Tournament.
The details
Ole Miss jumped out to an early lead, with McMahon draining a 3-pointer on her first attempt. LSU took a 26-21 lead by the end of the first quarter, but the Rebels battled back to tie the game at 31 in the second quarter. Ole Miss then went on a run in the third quarter, taking a 13-point lead, but LSU mounted a strong comeback in the fourth to secure the victory.
- The game was played on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
- Ole Miss and LSU are both ranked teams, with Ole Miss at No. 17/17 and LSU at No. 7/7.
The players
Cotie McMahon
A standout player for the Rebels, McMahon led the team with 25 points and has now reached 20+ points in 17 games this season, tying for the third most in a single season in program history.
Christeen Iwuala
One half of Ole Miss' formidable frontcourt duo, Iwuala scored 13 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the game.
Latasha Lattimore
The other half of Ole Miss' frontcourt duo, Lattimore scored 12 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had 3 blocks in the game.
What they’re saying
“Cotie McMahon has been on a tear this season, and she showed why again tonight against a top-10 opponent. Her ability to score in bunches is a huge asset for this Ole Miss team.”
— Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss Head Coach (olemisssports.com)
What’s next
Ole Miss will look to bounce back on Sunday, February 22nd when they travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face the South Carolina Gamecocks. Tipoff is set for 11 a.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN as part of College Gameday.
The takeaway
Despite the loss, this game demonstrated that Ole Miss can compete with the best teams in the SEC. The Rebels' frontcourt duo of Iwuala and Lattimore continues to emerge as a force, and Cotie McMahon's outstanding individual performance shows she is one of the top players in the conference. With the regular season winding down, Ole Miss will look to build on this effort as they push for a high seed in the SEC Tournament.
