Oxford, Miss. — Southern University faced one of the toughest challenges of its young season Tuesday night and learned first-hand why Ole Miss is among the nation's elite. The Lady Jaguars fell 94–44 to the 13th-ranked Rebels inside The Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
For the first few minutes, Southern (0–3) hung tough. Sophomore forward Zaria Hurston scored on an early layup to give the Jaguars a brief 2–0 lead, but it didn't last long. Ole Miss (3–0) answered with an 11–0 run, controlled the paint, and never looked back.
The Rebels shot 53 percent from the field and used their size to dominate the interior, outscoring Southern 50–18 in the paint and winning the rebounding battle 51–22.
Hurston was a bright spot for Southern, posting 21 points and six rebounds in one of the best performances of her young career. "Zaria fought every possession," head coach Carlos Funchess said after the game. "We ask a lot of her — she's going up against Power Five post players every night — and she never backs down. Her energy and leadership kept us competing."
Southern shot 32 percent from the floor (16-of-50) and 53 percent from the line (10-of-19), struggling to find consistent offense against the Rebels' aggressive half-court defense. Ole Miss's full-court pressure forced 17 turnovers and limited the Jaguars to just 10 free throws through the first three quarters.
Jaylia Reed scored six points for Southern, while Anaja Hall and DeMya Porter each chipped in four. Despite the loss, the Jaguars' effort and energy never wavered.
By the Numbers
Points per Possession (PPP):
Southern: ~0.70
Ole Miss: ~1.50
Rebounding Margin: +26 Ole Miss
Largest Scoring Run: Ole Miss 15–0 (3Q, 7:13 mark)
Attendance: 2,299
Game Duration: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Keys to the Game
1. Paint Dominance
Ole Miss controlled the interior with 50 points in the paint to Southern's 18.
2. Depth and Bench Impact
Ole Miss's depth overwhelmed Southern: the Rebel bench scored 34 points to just eight for the Jaguars.
3. Efficiency and Ball Movement
Ole Miss shot 53% from the field and posted a 59% effective FG%, compared to Southern's 34%. The Rebels' spacing and quick ball reversal led to clean looks, particularly in transition and mid-range.
4. Turnovers and Transition
Southern forced 19 turnovers but failed to convert, producing only four fast-break points. Ole Miss, meanwhile, turned defense into offense with 12 fast-break points and 22 second chance points.
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5. Free Throws and Fouls
Ole Miss made the most of contact, hitting 21 of 28 FT (75%), while Southern struggled at the line (10-19, 53%)
Next Up: Jaguars Home Opener
There's no time to dwell on the last game — the Jaguars return home for their home opener on Tuesday, November 18th against Tougaloo College at 6PM, inside F. G. Clark Activity Center.
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