I'll publish Wednesday.

Fire away.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Audrey Gogniat and Gracie Dinh shined for No. 6 Ole Miss rifle in the NCAA Qualifier against Memphis, as the team claimed a 4734-4709 victory at the R.F. Fogelman Rifle Range on Saturday.

The Rebels' (10-6, 1-3 PRC) victory marked the 10th of their season, becoming the third Rebel squad to reach double-digit wins in a season ever. It's the first time Ole Miss has reached the 10-win plateau since the 2021-22 season.

The Rebels fired their second consecutive 2383 score in air rifle, tying the third-highest mark in program history. Ole Miss has fired a 2382 or better in the event four times this spring alone.

Ole Miss has now emerged victorious in the past eight NCAA Qualifiers, with this year's team score being the highest in that span. It's the second season in a row that Ole Miss defeated Memphis in the NCAA Qualifier, as the Rebel's national tournament bid remained strong.

With Ole Miss' 4734 score, it's deciding average shifts to 4736.3, not dipping below one point of its average going into the match. The Rebels will learn their fate during the National Collegiate Rifle Selection Show on Monday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. CT.

The freshmen duo of Gogniat and Dinh shouldered much of the weight for Ole Miss against Memphis. The pair competed together in the second relay, finishing first and second in the entire field in aggregate scoring, and on the podium of both events for the day.

Gogniat solidified her stance as one of Ole Miss' best smallbore shooters in program history after firing the second-highest tally by a Rebel. Her 596 sandwiches her between her two other high-scoring marks, effectively giving Gogniat the top three smallbore scores in program history. She fired the school record 597 at the Patriot Rifle Conference Tournament and a 595 to initially set the record last January against Akron and Army.

She followed her smallbore performance with another 599 score in air rifle. The freshman phenom has scored at least 599 four times this spring and has only dropped below that mark twice. She had a field-leading 1195 aggregate score, which is the second highest in Ole Miss history, two points shy of Gogniat's 1197 she hit earlier this spring.

Dinh posted an 1185 aggregate, tying her career best and finishing just behind Gogniat in the individual aggregate standings. She had the third-highest smallbore score of the event at 588 and the second-highest air rifle score of 597. She tied her career air rifle record in the process, shooting nothing but 10's after the first dozen shot attempts.

Four Rebels toed the line in the first relay, with M'Leah Lambdin serving as the headliner. She led the Rebels in smallbore and air rifle, earning an 1179 aggregate. Lambdin once again tied her career best air rifle score of 594 against the Tigers. It's her second time reaching that mark in her last two appearances.

Six Rebels competed in Memphis on Friday, Feb. 21, as a preliminary relay. No counters participated in this relay. Katie Tedeschi and Regan Diamond had excellent showings, scoring 1180 and 1178, respectively. Tedeschi's aggregate earned her a podium finish for the event, while Diamond led yesterday's relay in smallbore with a 589. Diamond had the second-highest smallbore score of the weekend.

The Rebels will learn their national tournament fate during the National Collegiate Rifle Selection Show on Monday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. CT. Should Ole Miss reach the top eight in the NCAA in scoring average, the team will prepare for its fifth-straight appearance at the national show in Lexington, Ky., on March 14-15.

Women’s Basketball Completes Successful Comeback Against Missouri​

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OXFORD, Miss. – Despite a 10-point halftime deficit, Ole Miss women’s basketball staged an impressive comeback to defeat Missouri, 68-66, on Sunday at the SJB Pavilion.

The Rebels (18-8, 9-5 SEC) used a 38-point second half to claim their victory over the Tigers (13-16, 2-12 SEC). This is the first time Ole Miss has completed a comeback after trailing by double-digits in the first half since Jan. 29, 2023, when it came back from a 19-point deficit against Arkansas.

Ole Miss forced 23 Missouri turnovers while recording 14 steals, the most Missouri has allowed this season. It’s Ole Miss’ 17th game with 10-plus steals this season.

Starr Jacobs led the way for Ole Miss, recording a team-high 22 points. She went 9-for-13 from the field, while adding four steals to lead the team. She’s now hit the 50-steals mark for the season. This is the second game in a row that a Rebel has scored north of 20 points, as KK Deans also notched 22 versus Tennessee.
Christeen Iwuala joined Jacobs as a force to be reckoned with in the paint for Ole Miss. She added 10 points to the Ole Miss cause, alongside a team-leading seven rebounds.

Sira Thienou recorded her 70th steal of the season, after taking two away from Missouri. She became just the third Ole Miss freshman to record at least 70 steals in a season and the first since Armintie Price did so in the 2003-04 season. Alisa Scott was the first Rebel to do it in the 1983-84 season.

Iwuala came off the bench in the first quarter and immediately made an impact for the Rebels. She scored four points in the first with three rebounds, complementing Kennedy Todd-Williams’ five points in the initial 10 minutes. The Rebels went shot-for-shot with the Tigers throughout the first, leading to an 18-18 tie entering the second quarter.

Missouri gained some momentum in the final 10 minutes of the first half, outscoring Ole Miss 22-12. Iwuala and Jacobs continued to perform well in the paint, scoring two and four points, respectively. Iwuala ended the first half with a team-leading five rebounds.

The Rebels awoke in the second half, opening the third quarter on a 7-0 run through the first two minutes. Jacobs caught fire, not missing a shot and scoring 11 points in the quarter. Jacobs also pickpocketed the Tigers three times, including one to set up a fastbreak layup after picking off a pass.
Kennedy Todd-Williams converted an and-one after a Missouri triple to keep the Rebels within three, which Jacobs followed by driving in a layup to force a timeout. Jacobs then scored the next five points in the game. Ole Miss outscored Missouri, 29-11, in the third and made its final five shot attempts. The 29-point quarter is the most Missouri has allowed this season by any opponent.

Momentum stalled for Ole Miss as the fourth quarter began, but the damage had been done to Missouri. Jacobs continued to score for the Rebels as the Tigers attempted a comeback of their own, until fouling was the only option. Deans had a clutch offensive rebound in the final 10 seconds after a missed Ole Miss free throw attempt. She made the first one, which was enough to clinch Ole Miss’ victory.

After celebrating its seniors on Sunday, the Rebels will return to the SJB Pavilion for the final time this season for a matchup against No. 6/6 South Carolina on Feb. 27. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Ole Miss softball program extended their winning streak to seven consecutive games, earning a sweep of James Madison and Louisiana Tech on the final day of the Rocket City Softball Showcase.

The Rebels (12-3, 0-0 SEC) opened the day with a 6-4 win over James Madison (2-7, 0-0 Sun Belt) at Toyota Field, before heading down the road to the UAH Charger Park, where they downed Louisiana Tech (7-7, 0-0 CUSA), 8-3.

GAME ONE | Ole Miss 6, James Madison 4

Right out of the gate, the Rebels came out swinging and built a first inning lead. A pair of singles by Taylor Malvin and Jaden Pone set up the freshman Persy Llamas. Llamas uncorked on a pitch and blasted a three-run home run to right field for an early advantage.
However, the Dukes put up a strong response in the second inning and struck for four runs to take the lead. While the Rebels loaded the bases and didn’t score in their half of the second inning, they got their response in the third. A walk by Llamas and a groundout put her in scoring position and she would come home on a throwing error to tie the game at 4-4.

After a difficult second inning, Brianna Lopez settled in to the circle nicely and held the Dukes at bay. Lopez struck out four through the first five innings and gave the Rebels a shot to go ahead.

The Rebels did just that in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Taylor Roman and Mackenzie Pickens singled to eventually set up runners at second and third. Jamie Mackay put the Rebels ahead with an RBI sacrifice fly, before Pickens stole third base and came home on an error to make it 6-4.

The veteran Lopez remained composed and closed out the game for her team, allowing only one baserunner on a walk and struck out the final batter for the victory.

GAME TWO | Ole Miss 8, Louisiana Tech 3
After a fast start in game one, the Rebels repeated the trend in the second game of the day. Despite an early run for the Bulldogs, the Rebels quickly responded in the bottom of the first inning.

A drawn hit-by-pitch from Malvin, a walk by Aliyah Binford and a ricocheted grounder by Llamas would give Mackay an early RBI opportunity with two runners on. The junior did not disappoint, lacing an RBI single to center field to take the lead, 2-1. Pickens immediately extended the advantage with an RBI double, making it 3-1.

A two-run home run by Louisiana Tech would tie the game in the third inning, but the Rebels would not go away. Llamas drew a hit-by-pitch and Mackay doubled to set up Pickens. The freshman continued her huge day with a three-run home run to left center field to make it 6-3.

In the circle, freshman Miali Guachino delivered another vintage performance and would keep the Bulldogs off the scoreboard for the remainder of the afternoon, finishing a complete game allowing two earned runs and striking out seven.

For some extra insurance, Pickens recorded her fifth RBI of the day, driving in an RBI single in the fifth inning to make it 7-3. While she would not get a chance to hit for the cycle to end the game, Lexie Brady put the game away for her team with a solo home run in the sixth inning to make it 8-3.

Ole Miss now returns home to Oxford and is back in action on Wednesday, hosting McNeese at 6 p.m. CT for the home opener at the new Ole Miss Softball Stadium.