Preview: Ole Miss women’s basketball travels to Starkville to take on State

“A narrative is like a room on whose walls a number of false doors have been painted; while within the narrative, we have many apparent choices of exit, but when the author leads us to one particular door, we know it is the right one because it opens.” — John Updike

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and the Rebel women’s basketball team continue to change the narrative and culture for hoops. Last season, the program progressed all the way to the NCAA tournament, and Coach Yo and her Rebs are out to equal — and pass — that performance in 2023, starting with a win today on the road at Mississippi State.

Ole Miss opens 2023 on the road with their 102nd meeting against Mississippi State. Tipoff from Humphrey Coliseum is set for 5:00 p.m. CST.

This rivalry game will bring the intensity and passion for which it is known, and, of course, bragging rights in the state.

The Rebels and Dawgs are both 12-2 overall and 1-0 in SEC play. This will be the second conference game for each. The last time Ole Miss won on the road in Starkville was 2007 when they pulled off an 86-84 overtime win.

Scouting State

Mississippi State returns home after a strong win in Nashville, 72-44, over Vandy. In his first season in Starkville, head coach Steve Purcell looks to continue to create momentum coming off a seven-game winning street

Today’s matchup should be a defensive showdown as State ranks fourth in nation and second in the SEC in scoring defense, holding teams to 50.1 points per game. It doesn’t end there — the bulldogs also are third in the country and in the SEC in defensive field goal percentage (30.8).

Jessika Carter is the nucleus of the MSU defense, leading the SEC in blocks (38) and blocks per game average (2.71). Carter is coming off scoring her 1000th-career point in the win over Vandy.

A look at the Rebs

Ole Miss opened SEC play with a dominant win over Auburn, 79-47, in Oxford. The Rebels capitalized on every play, causing 18 turnovers and closing with a 32-point margin of victory which was the largest margin for an Ole Miss win since 2007.

Ole Miss is catching national attention in its defensive efforts. The Rebel defense currently ranks 10th in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to only 52.4 points. The Rebels also rank 11th in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to an average of 33.8 percent.

Ole Miss is 12-0 when holding its opponent to 60 points and under.

Two keys for the Rebs on the road will be to continue finding ways to create turnovers and to put up points off them, as well as slow down MSU’s Carter.

Creating long-term success is no easy task, but Coach Yo and the Rebels look to continue their path by kicking down the door in Starkville.

Game info: 

Today’s game on the road in Starkville is set for a 5:00 p.m. tipoff and will be televised on the SEC Network.

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)