Ole Miss women’s basketball team beats Gonzaga 81-66 in NCAA tournament

MINNEAPOLIS — Latasha Lattimore scored 15 points to lead Ole Miss to an 81-66 victory over Gonzaga on Friday in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, according to the Associated Press.

The Rebels, seeded fifth, also received 13 points from Cotie McMahon and 12 from Sira Thienou, who added eight rebounds and four blocks. Denim DeShields contributed 11 points and four assists. Ole Miss (24-11), ranked 19th in the latest AP poll, is making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The team will face the winner of Sunday’s game between Minnesota and Green Bay in the regional semifinals in Sacramento next week.

Gonzaga, champions of the West Coast Conference Tournament, was led by Allie Turner with 27 points. Jaiden Haile scored 11 points with eight rebounds, and Lauren Whittaker added eight points and 13 rebounds. The 12th seed Bulldogs (24-10) fell behind early and struggled offensively, missing their first seven field goals and committing seven turnovers in the first quarter.

Ole Miss’s size advantage was a key factor in the game, with four starters and six rotation players standing 6-foot-1 or taller, compared to three for Gonzaga. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 33 points but mounted a late rally, with Teryn Gardner hitting three three-pointers and Turner making eight free throws to cut the deficit to 10 with 47 seconds remaining.

Gonzaga’s strong finish was not enough to overcome the early deficit. The Rebels held on for the win and will advance to the next round of the tournament. Coverage and bracket information are available through the AP’s March Madness hub.

Source: Original Article