With the game tied at 66 and only 10 seconds remaining, Iriafen, who is recognized as an Associated Press preseason All-America selection, confidently converted both free throws.
Iriafen finished the game with an impressive 22 points, while her teammate JuJu Watkins was the standout performer for USC, scoring 27 points.
For Ole Miss, K.K. Deans contributed 19 points, with Madison Scott adding another 14 to the team’s total.
In a pivotal moment just under two minutes to go, Deans executed a jump shot from nearly midcourt, edging Ole Miss ahead at 66-64.
The Adidas Arena, which has a seating capacity of 8,000 and serves as the venue for the men’s Paris Basketball team, was about half filled for the contest.
Key Takeaways
USC appeared to struggle with ball control and displayed moments of defensive negligence, often leaving themselves vulnerable to 3-point shots.
Mississippi, on the other hand, demonstrated resilience, initially trailing but eventually leading 16-15 at the end of the first quarter after overcoming an 11-point deficit at halftime, outscoring USC 40-31 in the latter half of the game.
Crucial Moment
Despite her commendable performance—including a game-high four 3-pointers—Deans fouled out just before the end of the game with 10 seconds left. She exited with her head down, allowing USC to capitalize on the situation.
Notable Statistic
Ole Miss managed to hit 7 out of their 23 attempts from beyond the arc, in stark contrast to USC’s struggles, making only 1 out of 11.
What’s Next
The Trojans will face Cal Poly at the Galen Center this Saturday, while Ole Miss is set to host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday.