South Carolina women's basketball vs. Ole Miss Rebels scouting report, score prediction

COLUMBIA — After winning its 40th consecutive game at Colonial Life Arena, South Carolina women's basketball heads back on the road this weekend to face Ole Miss.

The No. 1 Gamecocks (26-0, 13-0 SEC) kick off the first of back-to-back away games against the Rebels (20-6, 9-4) in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sunday (4 p.m., SEC Network). Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC and has won its last three home games in a row.

South Carolina leads the all-time series 28-17 and are 10-8 on the Rebels' home court. Last season, the teams met three times, all wins by the Gamecocks. Their biggest victory was 69-40 in Columbia, but the Rebels lost by just 10 when they faced off in the SEC tournament semifinals.

Here's everything you need to know about the matchup:

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Rebels play up – and down – to opponents

Ole Miss is a tricky team to evaluate because of its inconsistency. The Rebels beat then-No. 24 Arkansas in overtime, held No. 4 LSU under 70 points in a single-digit loss and lost by just two points to No. 5 Utah at the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo tournament in November. However, they scored only 58 points in a win over mid-major Little Rock and lost in overtime to Auburn, which South Carolina has beaten by 52 and 35 points.

Ole Miss is coming off the loss at LSU, and other opponents in a similar situation have struggled against South Carolina. Arkansas lost in Columbia by 46 after nearly beating LSU, and the Gamecocks won at Alabama after the Tigers dominated in Tuscaloosa.

Battle of SEC's best defenses

South Carolina has the No. 1 scoring defense in the country, holding opponents to an average of 49.2 points per game. Ole Miss isn't far behind, ranking No. 2 in the SEC and No. 22 nationally at 55.3 points per game. Though they are unranked, Rebels are the highest-rated defense that the Gamecocks have faced all season.

Where the matchup gets challenging for Ole Miss is on offense. South Carolina is dominant on both ends, ranking sixth in the country in scoring offense with 82.7 points per game. The Rebels rank 82nd, averaging 70.5 points. If they can keep the game low-scoring, as Mississippi State did against the Gamecocks, things could get too close for comfort.

Limiting Angel Baker's impact

Senior Angel Baker, a second-year transfer from Wright State, burst onto the SEC scene last season and has continued to rise. Baker leads the Rebels in scoring (15 points per game), and she also ranks in the top three on the team in 3-point percentage, rebounds, assists, steals and free throw percentage.

Baker was dominant against LSU's top-25 defense, putting up 21 points and eight rebounds, and she has double-doubles this season against Temple and Mississippi State. However, she'll face her biggest 1-on-1 challenge of the season, with Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist Brea Beal likely taking on her primary guard.

Prediction

South Carolina 71, Ole Miss 56: The Gamecocks' road woes return early thanks to the Rebels' defense, but height and depth win out in the second half against a transfer-laden and undersized Ole Miss squad. South Carolina gets one step closer to clinching the SEC regular-season championship.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball vs Ole Miss score prediction