After they obliterated then-No. 3 LSU (25-1, 13-1) to hand the Lady Tigers their first loss, it seemed the fate of No. 1-ranked and undefeated South Carolina (27-0, 14-0) was sealed, with the Gamecocks destined to complete a perfect regular season on their way to a second-consecutive national championship.
But Ole Miss (20-7, 9-5) had other ideas, requiring South Carolina to earn their destiny.
Last Thursday, the Rebels pushed the Lady Tigers to the brink in Baton Rouge, falling 69-60. Hosting the Gamecocks on Sunday, the Rebels further certified their status as a rising threat in the SEC, with the potential to cause trouble in the SEC and NCAA tournaments. In his latest Bracketology, ESPN’s Charlie Creme categorizes Ole Miss as a No. 8 seed. This coming week, the Rebels complete their conference slate by welcoming Missouri and visiting Alabama, with a pair of wins giving Coach Yo’s squad 11 SEC wins, a likely 4th-place finish in the conference standings and a possible entry into the Top 25.
However, the Gamecocks eventually overcame the Rebel zone defense that provoked inefficient offensive outings from senior stars Aliyah Boston and Zia Cooke, escaping Oxford with the 64-57 win. In overtime, South Carolina tapped into its experience executing in high-leverage…
