The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama native Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin has undoubtedly moved the needle for the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Rebels women’s basketball programme.

The Lady Rebels ended the regular season on a six-game win streak which translated to a 12-4 record in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play, making it the most wins in the programme’s history.

Additionally, “Coach Yo” eclipsed the 100th win mark with the Lady Rebels over the weekend while also securing ESPN’s National Coach of the Week honours on Monday.

ESPN’s Michael Voepel highlighted the Rebels’ journey since McPhee- McCuin took the reins in 2018.

“Coach Yo” has turned around the programme at Ole Miss. The Rebels cruised past Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas this past week, finishing with a programme-record 12 SEC victories.

A 12-4 mark is good for third place in the league. Consider four years ago — McPhee-McCuin’s second season trying to rebuild the programme — Ole Miss went 0-16 in league play.

Even then, though, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel. After four SEC wins in 2020-21, the Rebels have had double-digit league victories now the past three years in a row and reached the Sweet 16 last season,” Voepel said.

On Sunday, the Lady Rebels closed out the season with a 22-7 win/loss record making it their third consecutive season over 20 wins since 1989-1992.

They put the SEC on notice with their sixth straight win against the Arkansas Razorbacks 87-43 on Senior Day at the Pavillion. Defence was once again the theme for the Rebels who held their 11th opponent of the season under 50 points, good for a programme record.

The blowout victory was also the largest win in school history over the Razorbacks.

Although Coach Yo and the Rebels are relishing in their recent successes, the programme was not always trending in this direction. In 2018, the Rebels finished with a 9-22 record and 3-13 SEC record.

The following year, Ole Miss earned less wins for a 7-23 record and did not win a single game in SEC play.

The programme progressed in 2020, improving to a 15-12 record and 4-10 SEC record. Since that point, the Ole Miss Rebels have eclipsed 20 wins three straight seasons and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 last year.

After clinching the third seed, which is their highest in 32 years in the SEC, the 2023 Battle 4 Atlantis women’s champions will begin their SEC tourney experience in the quarterfinals on Friday at 8pm.

The Lady Rebels are firing on all cylinders at the right time in hopes of making a deep postseason run.