Shakira Austin, a two-time All-SEC centre, scored 27 points and pulled in 13 rebounds to help Mississippi defeat No. 23 Florida beat No. 60 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament.
The fourth-seeded Rebels (23-7), have now won five of six of their last six. They are now in the semifinals for a 10th consecutive time, and the first time since 1993.
In the semifinals, they will face South Carolina, which is the top-ranked team in the SEC, in Saturday’s matchup. This will be a rematch from the regular season finale, between the teams the Gamecocks beat 71-57 last weekend in Oxford.
Angel Baker scored 15 points to Ole Miss. The team hit 12 of its 14 last free throw attempts to win the game.
No. No. 5 seed Florida (21-10), will now wait for the NCAA Tournament bracket announcement. The team has lost four of five due to injuries to two starters, two of its top three scorers and one of its top three most important scorers.
All-SEC guard Kiara Smith, the Gators’ top scorer, stated afterward that she was done with her season. After suffering a right-side knee injury, she was taken off the court by her teammates in the second round victory over Vanderbilt. Smith was able to use crutches during Friday’s match and also assisted on the bench.
Jordyn Merritt, the forward, suffered a serious fall in the first quarter. She played for only three minutes.
Zippy Broughton made six 3-pointers, and Florida was led with 26 points. Kristina Moore scored 11.
Broughton’s 3 was the only time that the Gators were ahead. Austin scored six more points, before Broughton added another 3, to tie the score at 6. With 6:18 remaining, Lashonda Monk made a jumper to give Ole Miss the lead. The Rebels were leading 20-15 at halftime. Halftime saw Ole Miss leading 32-25.
Florida overcame a 14 point deficit to move forward and fought on.
With 2:22 remaining in the third quarter on Alberte Rimdal’s layup, the Gators were within 40-39. After the Rebels missed their 11th attempt from beyond the arc, Baker responded with Ole Miss’ first 3-pointer. Snudda Collins added a third, and Austin made two free throws to make Ole Miss lead 48-41 at quarter’s end.
Florida was within four seconds of Florida with 1:29 left on a Broughton 3 but the Rebels made their final eight free throws.
