Christeen Iwuala wasted no time setting the tone for Ole Miss. She crashed the glass early, grabbed an offensive rebound, and powered in the game’s first bucket-an opening statement that echoed throughout the Rebels’ 83-75 upset win over No. 5 Vanderbilt at Legacy Arena in Birmingham.
This one wasn’t just about basketball. Originally slated for Jan. 29 in Oxford, the game was moved due to recovery efforts following Winter Storm Fern.
That context mattered-and the Rebels played like it. This marked their second top-5 win in the past month, and it came with a sense of purpose that extended beyond the court.
“We just knew that it was bigger than just us,” Iwuala said postgame. “There are still people back at home struggling with no power, no water. The fact that we get to be here and play this game really brought a lot of gratitude.”
Ole Miss improved to 18-4 overall and 5-2 in SEC play, while Vanderbilt dropped to 20-2 and 6-2 in conference action. But beyond the records, this was a game defined by resilience, execution, and a pair of standout performances that anchored the Rebels on both ends of the floor.
From the opening tip, Ole Miss came out with energy and intent. They jumped to a 23-15 lead after the first quarter, with Iwuala establishing herself in the paint and Cotie McMahon orchestrating the offense.
The second quarter was a masterclass in momentum-building: a 21-2 run that spanned nearly the entire frame. McMahon attacked downhill, Iwuala cleaned up everything around the rim, and the Rebels entered halftime with a commanding lead.
But Vanderbilt didn’t get to 20 wins by accident. The Commodores regrouped at the break and came out swinging in the third, outscoring Ole Miss 26-16.
Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan led the charge, using tempo and pressure to disrupt the Rebels’ rhythm. Fast-break layups, crisp ball movement, and a few forced turnovers helped Vanderbilt cut the deficit to single digits heading into the final quarter.
“I feel like we kind of let that slip as the game went on toward the third and a little bit of the beginning of the fourth,” Iwuala admitted. “But we brought it back together. It really honed in the fact that it’s all 40 minutes of focus.”
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin echoed that sentiment.
“Vanderbilt is a great team,” she said. “They just didn’t come out intense at first like we did, and we were prepared for a fight. They made their run-we expected that.”
And they did. With just over five minutes to play, Vanderbilt had pulled within three, 67-64.
The game was hanging in the balance, and Ole Miss needed composure. They found it in McMahon.
The sophomore guard took over late, scoring a critical layup and calmly knocking down two free throws in the closing minutes to help seal the win. She finished with 27 points, showcasing the kind of poise and shot-making that separates good guards from great ones.
Iwuala was a force all game long, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds-her double-double fueled by sheer effort and physicality in the paint. Latasha Lattimore chipped in 12 points and gave Ole Miss valuable minutes during key stretches.
Statistically, the Rebels were locked in. They shot 52 percent from the field, an eye-popping 67 percent from beyond the arc, and 90 percent at the free-throw line. They also won the battle on the boards, out-rebounding Vanderbilt 35-27-a testament to their energy and execution inside.
But the numbers only tell part of the story. This win carried weight. It came amid logistical chaos, emotional fatigue, and the lingering effects of a devastating winter storm.
“We just wanted this to be our way to show that we’re fighting alongside the people that are still there and try to bring them some joy,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We could have folded. We didn’t.”
Instead, they rose-on the court and for their community. And with another SEC matchup against Auburn on Monday, Ole Miss is proving they’re not just contenders-they’re battle-tested.