MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Mississippi women’s basketball team used a decisive third-quarter surge to defeat Gonzaga 81-66 in an NCAA Division I playoff game Friday at Williams Arena. The Rebels outscored the Bulldogs 29-14 in the period, turning a 39-23 halftime lead into an insurmountable advantage. Gonzaga mounted a late rally with 29 points in the fourth quarter, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome. Latasha Lattimore led Mississippi with 15 points. Cotie McMahon added 13 points and Sira Thienou scored 12 with four blocks. The victory improved Mississippi’s season record to 24-11, while Gonzaga finished its season at 24-10.