On February 17, 2026, No. 17 Ole Miss achieved a decisive 94-81 victory over No. 21 Tennessee at Sandy and John Black Pavilion in Oxford, Mississippi. With this win, Ole Miss improved their record to 21-6 overall and 8-4 in the SEC, while Tennessee fell to 16-8, also holding an 8-4 conference record.
The Rebels set the pace early, leading 44-33 at halftime as the Lady Vols experienced their second consecutive loss. A standout performance came from Cotie McMahon, who led all scorers with an impressive 39 points. In addition to her scoring, she recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds, alongside five assists and two steals, showcasing her all-around game.
Tennessee’s Talaysia Cooper also had a notable outing, scoring 30 points and contributing two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Her offensive efforts included making 12 of 26 field goal attempts, though she struggled somewhat from beyond the arc with only two successful three-point shots out of seven attempts. Lauren Hurst posted a career-high of 16 points while pulling down nine rebounds and adding two assists, while teammate Alyssa Latham chipped in 10 points, two rebounds, and one assist. However, Tennessee’s performance was marred by 16 turnovers, just slightly more than Ole Miss’s 15.
This closely contested game was rescheduled from January 26 due to inclement weather, and it highlighted the competitive nature of SEC women’s basketball this season. Both teams will be looking to improve in their upcoming matchups, offering plenty of excitement for fans as the season approaches its climax.