Ole Miss Stuns No. 18 Notre Dame 69-62

Ole Miss Upsets Notre Dame in ACC/SEC Challenge Thriller

In a stunning upset on Thursday night, No. 13 Ole Miss rallied from a 19-point first-half deficit to defeat No. 18 Notre Dame 69-62. The Rebels improved to 8-0 on the season with this impressive victory, which marked their first win over Notre Dame in program history.

Dominant Fourth Quarter Seals the Deal

The game turned in the fourth quarter when Ole Miss, coached by Yolett McPhee-McCuin, mounted a remarkable comeback. Cotie McMahon and Christeen Iwuala combined for 13 of the Rebels' 19 fourth-quarter points, with Iwuala's three-point play giving Ole Miss the lead for good and igniting an 11-2 run.

Stars Shine for Both Teams

Cotie McMahon led Ole Miss with 22 points, going 10-of-20 from the field. Christeen Iwuala was equally impressive, adding 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. The Rebels shot just 39% from the field but dominated the boards, outrebounding Notre Dame 42-27, including a commanding 19-8 advantage on offensive rebounds.

For Notre Dame, Hannah Hidalgo scored a game-high 28 points, making 10-of-23 shots and converting all eight of her free throws. She added five steals but was ejected with two technical fouls in the final seconds of the game. Malaya Cowles contributed 12 points before fouling out.

Historic Meeting

The game marked the first time these programs had met at Ole Miss's Sandy and John Black Pavilion in Oxford. The previous encounter came in the Second Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, where Notre Dame prevailed 71-56 in South Bend.

Key Statistical Battle

Both teams entered the matchup with potent offenses, ranking among the nation's best. Notre Dame averaged 82.8 points per game (24th nationally), while Ole Miss averaged 83.7 points (21st nationally). Despite their offensive prowess, it was defensive rebounding and second-chance opportunities that ultimately decided the game in favor of the Rebels.

"Ole Miss took its first lead on Powe's 3-pointer during a 9-0 run late in the third quarter and led 50-49 heading into the final period." - Game Recap

What's Next?

For Notre Dame (5-2), this loss comes ahead of ACC play, as they travel to Florida State for their conference opener on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ole Miss (8-0) will look to continue its perfect season when they face Kansas State in the Bill Snyder Classic at St. Joseph, Missouri.

This victory represents a significant milestone for Ole Miss, which began the season with an average scoring margin of +30.6 in its first five games. The win not only snapped Notre Dame's brief two-game winning streak but also improved Ole Miss's record in the SEC/ACC Challenge to 1-2.

Implications for Rankings and Tournament Seeding

With this win, Ole Miss strengthens its resume for potential NCAA Tournament consideration. A victory over a ranked opponent, especially one that came from such a significant deficit, provides a quality win that could help the Rebels secure a higher seed or even host early-round games in March.

Notre Dame, despite the loss, remains a formidable opponent with a strong tournament pedigree under head coach Niele Ivey. The Irish have made four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and will look to bounce back quickly in ACC play.