Rebels capture win No. 10 in SEC play in 72-64 victory over Missouri
OXFORD – The Ole Miss women’s basketball team finished its home schedule with a 72-64 win over Missouri on Senior Night Thursday at the SJB Pavilion in Oxford. This was the first home win for the Rebels over the Tigers since Missouri entered the SEC in 2013.
The win also gave the Rebels back-to-back 10-win seasons in SEC play for the first time in program history.
Win one game remaining, the Rebels are 21-7 overall and 10-5 in the SEC. They sit one game above Alabama for fourth in the SEC standings with Sunday’s matchup between the two being the deciding factor on who gets the last double-bye in the SEC Tournament.
The first half was reminiscent of the Ole Miss team we have seen all year with suffocation on the defensive end. The Rebels held the Tigers to 38% from the field and 24 points overall in the half.
The offense was also shining, including three three-pointers to start the game by three different players. Ole Miss finished the half with six made three-pointers and a 44% overall shooting performance. They took a 36-24 lead into the halftime break.
The third quarter, however, was quite uncharacteristic from a Coach Yo-coached defense. The Rebels gave up a whopping 27 points in the quarter, which was more than Ole Miss allowed in the entire first half. The Rebels were still able to shoot 50% while combating Missouri’s 64% performance, and they took a 55-51 lead into the final frame.
Ole Miss got back to its normal defensive prowess in the fourth quarter, allowing 13 points and 33% shooting. The Rebel offense did not make a field goal in the final 3:47 of the game, but clutch free throws sealed the team’s tenth SEC win.
Overall, Ole Miss was led by senior guard Angel Baker with 19 points and six assists. Senior guard Myah Taylor scored her most points in a game this season with 17 points, while also dishing out five assists. Finally, forward Madison Scott notched another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said that her team is peaking at the right time, but there is still a lot of improvement left.
“We are right on schedule. I do not think we are playing our best basketball yet. We did look good tonight. We are getting there. That makes me proud.”
Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin
Coach Yo said her team looked great in the three-point department (9-23), along with assists (18) and turnovers (10). She also mentioned the 46% shooting performance as a sign of great improvement for the season.
She said that the wear of the South Carolina loss on Sunday showed itself in the third quarter, but the response in the fourth was right on par with her team’s mentality.
“We defend. We dictate and disrupt. In the fashion that we did that in the last two minutes makes me proud because that is what we are about.”
Coach Yo
Thursday’s win came on Senior Night for guard Myah Taylor, guard Angel Baker, guard Jordan Berry and forward Tyia Singleton.
Taylor, who participated in Senior Day festivities last year at Mississippi State, said that her leadership combined with the leadership of Angel Baker and Madison Scott helped keep the team level-headed during an emotional Senior Night.
“[We were] telling the team, hey, we still have a job to do and unfinished business. Just don’t get too high. Don’t get too low. Stay poised.”
Myah Taylor
Coach Yo praised the contributions her four seniors gave to the program and knows success awaits them after Ole Miss.
“These seniors that have come in and said that they wanted to be a part of this makes it more special because of the type of people they are. Every last one of them are elite individuals. There is no doubt in my mind that those four young ladies are going to be successful in life.”
Coach Yo on her seniors
The Rebels capped their home schedule with a 14-2 record, something Coach Yo said will be hard to beat come next year. However, one of the losses, which came to Alabama in January, still stings. She wants her team to right that wrong on Sunday.
“This Alabama game has left a bad taste in our mouth,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We really want to come out, play good basketball and get that back.”
Up Next
The Rebels will look to split the season series with the Alabama Crimson Tide and lock-up the fourth seed and a double-bye in the SEC Tournament in their regular season finale Sunday afternoon. Tipoff from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is set for 2 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Trevor Terminie
Trevor is a senior at Ole Miss pursuing a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Sports Communication and Promotion. He has previous experience covering sports for another site, including a variety of Ole Miss sports. Growing up in New Orleans, La., he has the Pelicans and Saints running through his blood. He also grew up in an LSU family, but his love for Ole Miss continues to grow. Trevor hopes to cover sports back in his hometown after college. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
