Cotie McMahon delivered a statement performance Thursday night, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists as No. 15 Ole Miss pulled away in the second half to beat Georgia 79–62 at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion. The win opened SEC play for both programs and handed Georgia its first loss of the season.
A tight game turns in the third quarter
The first half stayed within striking distance, with Georgia matching Ole Miss’ physicality and keeping the scoreboard close. But the tone shifted early in the third quarter when McMahon stepped into the moment—draining a jumper and then converting twice at the free-throw line to ignite a 9–2 spurt that pushed the Rebels ahead 45–39 about three minutes after halftime.
Georgia answered quickly, cutting the margin to two on back-to-back paint baskets from Dani Carnegie. That response, however, proved to be the Bulldogs’ last sustained push. Ole Miss finished the third quarter by scoring 17 of the final 22 points, building a 62–48 cushion entering the fourth and effectively taking control of the night.
McMahon piled up 11 points in the third quarter alone, while Debreasha Powe added eight in the period—including two three-pointers that stopped Georgia’s momentum and stretched the lead.
Ole Miss’ depth shows, and the free-throw line decides the margin
Ole Miss didn’t need perfect shooting to win convincingly. The Rebels hit 40% from the field, but their discipline at the stripe separated the game. Ole Miss shot 86% on free throws and outscored Georgia 24–7 at the line—an edge that covered any cold stretches from the floor and kept the Bulldogs from making a late run.
Latasha Lattimore scored 13 points, Christeen Iwuala added 12, and Powe and Kaitlin Peterson chipped in 10 apiece as the Rebels layered scoring threats around McMahon’s all-around control.
Georgia’s unbeaten start ends, despite Carnegie’s efficient night
Georgia entered 14–0—its best start since the 2009–10 season—but couldn’t match Ole Miss’ execution after halftime. Carnegie led the Bulldogs with 24 points and eight rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting, consistently finding space in the lane and finishing through contact.
Trinity Turner added 16 points and five assists, but the Bulldogs’ perimeter struggles and mistakes proved costly. Turner went 0-for-7 from three-point range and committed six turnovers as Ole Miss tightened up defensively and turned pressure into trips to the free-throw line.
What’s next
Ole Miss now heads into an early measuring-stick road trip, playing No. 2 Texas on Sunday. Georgia returns home to host Texas A&M on Sunday as the Lady Bulldogs look to reset quickly and reassert themselves in SEC play.
Game details
- Final: No. 15 Ole Miss 79, Georgia 62
- Venue: Sandy and John Black Pavilion (Oxford, Mississippi)
- Attendance: 2,595
- Coverage: SECN+
For broader national rankings context, see the AP Top 25 women’s college basketball poll hub. You can also follow season-wide coverage at the AP women’s college basketball hub.
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