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Gonzaga Women's Basketball

Ole Miss proves too much, knocks Gonzaga women out of NCAA Tournament in first round 81-66

Gonzaga guard Ines Bettencourt (8) heads to the basket as Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) defends during an NCAA first-round tournament college basketball game Friday, March, 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
Gonzaga guard Ines Bettencourt (8) heads to the basket as Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) defends during an NCAA first-round tournament college basketball game Friday, March, 20, 2026, in Minneapolis. (COLIN MULVANY/THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW)
From staff reports

MINNEAPOLIS – An upset was not in the cards for the Gonzaga women’s basketball team on Friday.

No. 5 seed Mississippi dominated the paint and the turnover margin to beat the 12th-seeded Zags 81-66 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena.

The Rebels (24-11) forced West Coast Conference Player of the Year Lauren Whittaker into early foul trouble and threw her off her game the rest of the day. Whittaker finished with eight points making 4 of 21 attempts from the field.

Still, there was no quit in the Zags.

Gonzaga surged in the fourth quarter, outscoring Ole Miss 29-13, including a 20-2 run, but the Rebels lead was too large to overcome.

Ole Miss was balanced scoring and had four players in double figures. The Rebels forced 21 turnovers and gave up 13, with 10 coming in the fourth quarter. They also outscored the Zags 40-28 in the paint and 26-14 on second chance points.

The Bulldogs (24-10) have plenty to build on with Whittaker and sophomore Allie Turner, who led the team with 27 points.

This story will be updated.