MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Mississippi Rebels remained undefeated Tuesday night, but it took a dominant overtime period and a complete defensive shutdown in the fourth quarter to overcome a second-half surge from the Memphis Tigers for a 73-64 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game at FedExForum.

In a game of dramatic swings, Mississippi improved to 4-0 while Memphis fell to 2-3 in front of a crowd of 1,217.

The Rebels appeared to be in control early, but a 23-point third-quarter explosion from the Tigers, fueled by the backcourt duo of Chaé Harris and Daejah Richmond, erased a Mississippi lead and put the home team ahead. Memphis took a 52-44 advantage into the final period, having outscored the Rebels 23-13 in the third.

However, the game turned on its head in the fourth quarter. Mississippi’s defense clamped down, holding Memphis to just six points on 3-of-12 shooting from the floor while forcing six turnovers. The Rebels mounted a 17-6 run in the period, tying the game and forcing overtime after holding Memphis without a field goal for the final 4:55 of regulation.

Overtime belonged entirely to Mississippi. The Rebels scored the first seven points and outscored the Tigers 15-6 in the extra frame. Memphis managed just two field goals in overtime and committed three critical turnovers, allowing Mississippi to pull away for the decisive win.

Sira Thienou and Cotie McMahon led a balanced scoring attack for Mississippi, each finishing with 19 points. Thienou, a native of Bamako, Mali, played 38 minutes and was instrumental in the overtime period. McMahon, from Dayton, Ohio, provided a crucial spark despite being limited to 26 minutes due to foul trouble. Christeen Iwuala added 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double, playing a team-high 39 minutes.

For Memphis, the offensive burden fell heavily on its starting guards. Chaé Harris, from Snellville, Georgia, poured in 24 points, while Daejah Richmond of Cordova, Tennessee, was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points. The duo combined for 46 of Memphis’s 64 points, but also accounted for 10 of the team’s 20 turnovers.

Statistically, the game was won on the margins. Mississippi’s defense was the story, generating 20 Memphis turnovers and converting them into 13 steals. The Rebels also dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds to Memphis’s five, leading to 13 second-chance points.

Both teams struggled from beyond the arc. Mississippi shot 4 of 17 from three-point range, while Memphis was 4 of 21. The Rebels found more success at the free-throw line, making 15 of 22 attempts compared to Memphis’s 10 of 14.

Mississippi’s victory extends its strong start to the season, having won its first three games by an average of 40 points. The Rebels will look to continue their momentum when they host Longwood on Nov. 24.

Memphis, after a promising 2-0 start, has now dropped three consecutive games. The Tigers will seek to right the ship when they return to FedExForum to host East Tennessee State on Nov. 22.