Ole Miss Returns Home to Host No. 1 South Carolina for Senior Day Sunday

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss women’s basketball team celebrates Senior Day today and will do so in the SJB Pavilion against the nation’s No. 1 team, South Carolina. The Rebels will honor Shakira Austin, Donnetta Johnson, Iyanla Kitchens, Lashonda Monk, Andeija Pucket and Mimi Reid prior to the 1 p.m. tip airing nationally on SEC Network.

The game marks the regular-season conclusion for Ole Miss (22-6, 10-5 SEC) and the Gamecocks (26-1, 14-1 SEC), and afterward, both teams will then prepare for next week’s SEC Tournament.

If head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s Rebels win, they would secure the No. 4 seed in the SEC tourney. If they lose, they still have a shot at being the four seed — but they’d need a little help in the form of Florida losing at home to Missouri.

Ole Miss is on a four-game winning streak, defeating A&M, Vandy, Arkansas and Auburn. The 72-52 win over the Tigers earlier in the week moved the Rebels to 10 wins in league play — marking the first time since the 1992 season the Rebels reached double digits in conference wins.

TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (22-6, 10-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 4th Season at Ole Miss (53-63) • 147-125 career record (9th Season)
 
South Carolina Gamecocks (26-1, 14-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Dawn Staley • 14th Season at USC (357-104) • 529-184 career record (22nd Season)
 
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play by Play: Eric Frede
Analyst: Christy Thomaskutty

OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty

SERIES NOTES    South Carolina holds the advantage 24-17 in the series that dates back to 1978. The Gamecocks have claimed the last 14 matchups in the series, with Ole Miss last picking up a win 64-63 at the 2010 SEC Tournament.

The last time the Rebels came away with a win against the Gamecocks was in 2009 with a one point 66-65 victory.

This will be the fourth meeting between the Rebels and the Gamecocks with South Carolina ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation.

FIRST MEETING
• 11/25/78 – UM, 84-76 – at Cookville

LAST MEETING
• 02/25/21 – USC, 68-43 – in Columbia

SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks still remain the top team in the nation, winning their last 14 straight contests and have picked up 11 wins against ranked opponents this year.

South Carolina has already clinched the SEC Regular Season Title, with a record of 14-1 in conference.

Aliyah Boston has proven why she is one of the best players in the nation with 20 straight double-doubles to break the SEC record.

LAST TIME OUT
The Rebels started off hot in the first quarter at Auburn with a quick 17-0 run to go up 19-2 through the first frame.

It was an all around team win as Snudda Collins popped off from three on her way to a season-high performance. Collins shot a career-tying high five triples, finishing with a game leading 20 points.

Shakira Austin and Angel Baker also added double-figure points as the Rebels went up by as many as 31 in the third quarter on the way to the 72-52 victory.

Evelyn Van Pelt

Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.