Ole Miss vs Mississippi Valley State | NCAA Women's Basketball | 12.12.23

OXFORD, Miss. - In its first game back coming off of a break for finals, Ole Miss women's basketball rode its strong defense and aggressive play in the paint to a 84-56 win over Mississippi Valley State from the SJB Pavilion on Tuesday night. 14 blocks as a team set a single-game program record for the Rebels.
Six players reached double-figures in scoring as Ole Miss (7-3) utilized a second quarter surge to surpass Mississippi Valley State (1-9) and jump back in the win column. Leading the Rebels in scoring with 14 points, Snudda Collins recorded her fourth consecutive game in double-digits. Recording her first double-double of the season, Rita Igbokwe finished with a season-best 12 points and a game leading 10-rebounds.
In a flurried attack, multiple Rebels accomplished season-best marks alongside Igbokwe, with Tyia Singleton dropping a season-best 11 points. The freshmen contributed to the team win with Rhema Collins adding a career-high five points and two blocks. For the eighth time this season, Marquesha Davis tallied double-digits with 10 points, while Kharyssa Richardson recorded 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Coming alive in the fourth quarter, Kennedy Todd-Williams scored six points to add to her total to conclude her night with 10 points.
Singleton led the Rebel's record setting block affair with a game-high four rejections. Rhema Collins, Igbokwe and Mariyah Noel added two apiece. The 14 rejections mark a new program best, set an SJB Pavilion record and are the third most by any team in a single-game in Division I women's basketball this year.
Ole Miss came out strong winning the tip, as Zakiya Stephenson scored the first points for the Rebels off a quick layup. Early on the Rebels stayed in a back and forth battle with the Devilettes, until taking off on a 6-0 run to gain a grasp on the game . Kharyssa Richardson concluded the first quarter with an offensive rebound and put-back to lead 18-10 through 10 minutes.
Throughout the second quarter Ole Miss continued to dominate defensively. With Ole Miss reaching the bonus, the Rebels capitalized at the free throw line while adding to their lead. Both teams entered a shooting slump, yet Ole Miss was able to lock it down on defense to protect its advantage. Singleton ended the scoring drought with a jumper towards the end of the frame. Holding MVSU to a nearly seven minute drought, the Rebels ended the second quarter with its largest halftime lead this season at 39-22.
Singleton remained hot, opening the the third quarter with yet another layup. Collins continued to pour it on as well in the paint, with Ole Miss extending its hold on the Devilettes. Davis provided a spark in with eight points in the quarter as Ole Miss outscored MVSU 26-20 to maintain its double-digit advantage, 65-42.
With a victory in sight, Ole Miss continued its block party against MVSU with nine alone throughout the second half. The Rebels built up their lead by as many as 29 in the final quarter to go on to defeat the Devilettes, 84-56.
Ole Miss begins a two-game road swing starting at South Alabama on Monday (Dec. 18), followed by a trip to Arkansas-Pine Bluff next Thursday (Dec. 21). The game against the Jaguars is set to air on ESPN+ at 6:00 p.m. CT.

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