The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

YOLETT McPhee-McCuin’s Ole Miss Rebels have rebounded from their lone Southeastern Conference loss of the season with a pair of dominant performances, including a milestone win over an in-state rival.

The Rebels scored an 86-56 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide and an 86-71 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs to conclude a three-game homestand.

The January 16 win over Mississippi State was the first win for Ole Miss in the rivalry since 2014.

Ole Miss improved to 15-2, 3-1 in the SEC. The programme is off to its best start in SEC play in seven seasons.

“Its been a long time coming. Long time. But if you ever need motivation on having a dream, putting in the work, keeping your head down and becoming a believer, you can just look at Ole Miss women’s basketball,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Really happy for our programme, really happy for anybody that has been a part of it. It means a lot to Mississippians and I’ve learned that it means a lot to me. “I think we showed who the best programme in the state is right now and that’s us. We plan to do that again when we go to Starkville,” said McPhee- McCuin. “It means a lot to the community. Every year I’ve been here we beat a ranked team and it wasn’t enough. People wanted to know when we would win this game. I’ve not been stressed for any game so far this season but I was stressed for this one. It’s almost as if nothing matters if you don’t get this game. Obviously that’s not true but that’s how it felt sometimes.”

The Rebels’ 13-game win streak ended on January 9 with a 70-58 loss to the No.7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

Following the loss, Ole Miss responded with one of their most lopsided wins of the season, 86-56 over the Alabama Crimson Tide on January 13. The Rebels turned an eight-point lead into a 30-point margin of victory. Ole Miss finished 9-22, 3-13 in the SEC in her first season at the helm. She followed with a 7-23 record in year two, winless in the SEC at 0-16 and 15-12 last season, 4-10 in the SEC.

While the programme has already equalled its win total last year, McPhee- McCuin said the ultimate goal is not just a return to respectability, but a berth to the NCAA Tournament.

“I kept saying, ‘You guys, we have to look like an NCAA Tournament team. It’s not about Alabama… By that time, usually, I already know after the first half, like, if we can win this game. So, now, I’m coaching, I felt comfortable like we could win the game. So now I was coaching towards where we’re trying to go,” she said. “I just remember two years ago, us losing, and playing a player-manager and a walk-on and having that in the game, just trying to stay afloat. People don’t remember those days, but I do. To see where we’ve come as a programme, it really gives me a sense of pride. I’m so focused on where we’re trying to go this season, I have to remember how far we’ve come, so that I could stay in the moment and be appreciative of these moments.”

Ole Miss travels to face the Texas A and M Aggies in College Station, Texas tonight at 7pm.