Kentucky Survives Ole Miss Comeback for 74-57 Victory

No. 18 Kentucky women's basketball team beats No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels in key SEC matchup.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The No. 18 Kentucky Wildcats women's basketball team defeated the No. 14 Ole Miss Rebels 74-57 in a key SEC matchup. Kentucky built a big first-half lead but had to hold off a second-half comeback attempt by Ole Miss before securing the victory.

Why it matters

This was an important Quad 1 win for Kentucky, which could help them improve their NCAA Tournament seeding. The Wildcats and Rebels were both in contention for top-16 overall seeds in the tournament, so this game had major implications for their postseason positioning.

The details

Kentucky got out to a 17-11 lead after the first quarter, thanks in large part to a strong performance from center Clara Strack. The Wildcats then went on a 19-0 run in the second quarter to build a 39-20 halftime lead. However, Ole Miss fought back in the second half, trimming Kentucky's advantage to just 13 points by the end of the third quarter. Kentucky was able to hold on for the 74-57 victory in the end.

  • The game was played on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
  • Kentucky and Ole Miss were both ranked in the top 15 nationally heading into the matchup.

The players

Clara Strack

A 6-foot-5 center for Kentucky who had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks in the first half.

Asia Boone

A Kentucky player who went 4-6 from 3-point range in the first half, adding to the Wildcats' offensive firepower.

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What’s next

Kentucky will have a week off before traveling to Nashville to take on No. 5 Vanderbilt on February 22nd, looking to avenge an earlier 84-83 loss to the Commodores.

The takeaway

Kentucky's ability to withstand Ole Miss' second-half comeback and secure the 74-57 victory shows the Wildcats' resilience and could be a key win that boosts their NCAA Tournament seeding prospects.