Yolett McPhee-McCuin praises Marquesha Davis, Madison Scott after 4th-quarter performances vs. Florida

As Ole Miss and Florida went back and forth Friday night, Marquesha Davis and Madison Scott rose to the occasion. They combined for 47 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter to help the Rebels to the 84-74 victory to advance to the semifinals of the SEC Tournament

Davis and Scott were critical to Ole Miss’ late success, outscoring Florida 28-20 in the final frame to get the victory. Davis led all scorers with 33 points while Scott recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

During her postgame interview, though, Scott didn’t think she played that well. The reason for that, according to Yolett McPhee-McCuin, was her 5-for-15 showing from the field. That’s why she didn’t seem too pleased with her performance despite the double-double.

“Madi is her biggest critic,” McPhee-McCuin told the SEC Now panel. “She hurt her ankle two games ago and was kind of favoring it. And there was a point in the game, I said, ‘Madi, I need you to come along.’ Fourteen and 15, but she was 5-for-15. So Madi’s super critical, and so to her, that was an off night.”

As for Scott’s seven points and four rebounds in the fourth quarter, McPhee-McCuin said her tournament experience showed.

“She was ridiculous,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Madi’s a baller. When it’s time for her to show up, she’s gonna show up. This is someone that has been in the SEC at Ole Miss for four years, and you know that’s not normal. So she’s been to this tournament. This is her fourth time. She’s ready to roll.”

As for Davis, she was on a mission. She went 11-for-19 from the field and also pulled down six rebounds to help Ole Miss advance in the conference tournament. It’s her final postseason in Oxford as she wraps up a five-year career that started at Arkansas.

Heading into the conference tournament, McPhee-McCuin had a message for Davis as she gets ready to head to the WNBA Draft.

“The conversation with Que was, ‘When you leave Ole Miss, you’re gonna leave with a bang,'” McPhee-McCuin said. “I said, ‘Go out with a bang.’

“Well, Marquesha’s a first-round draft pick, in my opinion. And I told her not to leave any doubt at any point this tournament.”

Yolett McPhee-McCuin: If Ole Miss created enough stops, Rebels could ‘create some separation’

Friday night marked the third time this year Ole Miss and Florida squared off. The Rebels won the first two – the second of which came in overtime – but the old adages is it’s hard to beat a team three times.

As for the emotions heading in, Yolett McPhee-McCuin said she had to stay even-keeled throughout the matchup. Ultimately, it came down to making plays on defense and on the boards, and Ole Miss did just that.

“Florida gives me heartburn. I knew I just had to be even the whole time. I don’t even remember getting super emotional at any point in the game, other than with my best friends, the officials. But other than that, I was pretty calm.

“I felt like if we could put together enough stops, we would be able to pull away and create some separation. And also, 45 rebounds, 21 offensive rebounds, that was the key.”

Now, Ole Miss will regroup before Saturday’s game against No. 1 seed LSU. The Tigers won the regular-season matchup 84-73, but McPhee-McCuin pointed out a lot has changed since then. That’s why her message will be similar to what she told Davis late in the game.

Ole Miss is going to have to want it.

“We’ve got to come to play,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Here’s the thing, like I told Que – it was like three minutes left in the game – I said, ‘Baby, I’m not subbing you. This is not about anything but will. You have to have the will to win. [There’s] no way that Florida’s more in shape than us. This is their third game. We’ve just got to buckle down and guard.’

“Obviously, I have a lot of respect for LSU, but we’re gonna come to play. I thought we played well the first time. We’re not the same team, they’re not the same team. I’m looking forward to it.”