Ole Miss women’s basketball refused to leave Florida without a two-game-skid-snapping win
What a difference a week makes for Ole Miss women’s basketball.
The Rebels got the weekend off after a blowout loss to Texas A&M in Oxford last Thursday. Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin unloaded on her team after that lowly performance, at the time the second loss in a row for the Rebels.
Seven days later, but at Florida, initially seemed like more of the (miserable) same. Ole Miss trailed by as much as 16 in the first half.
But the Rebels, in the second, re-discovered the vintage grittiness and defense-first approach they’ve become known for under McPhee-McCuin. They needed overtime, but ultimately the Rebels came out on the winning end of a 77-67 road comeback.
The extra-frame win was the third for Ole Miss in six seasons under McPhee-McCuin Ole Miss improved improved to 17-7 (7-4 SEC) on the year. Florida dropped to 13-10 (4-7).
“First off, hats off to Florida. Smoking-hot team right now,” McPhee-McCuin said in her postgame press conference. “They’re just a tough out, so I just want to commend them.
“Just incredibly proud. I know people question my coaching style sometimes, but I don’t say anything that I hadn’t earned the right to say. So, when I call my team out, no one felt any type of way. If anything, they agreed. They know that they’re better than what they showed that last game.”
C L U T C H 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Mc16e0gCoA
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) February 16, 2024
Ole Miss veteran forward Madison Scott had a career-high 27 points.
She pulled down 12 rebounds, too, for her now-fourth double-double of the season. She has 25 for her Ole Miss career and needs just one more to move into a tie for eighth all-time in program history.
“Maddie’s been to the Sweet 16 with us,” McPhee-McCuin said. “Been in a championship NIT game (and) a first-round (NCAA Tournament) game.
“I trust her and expect her to be able to finish the game out. Maddie wants to win. Whatever it takes.”
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Marquesha Davis tallied her fifth 20-point game (22) of the year. She had 10 rebounds as well, while Kennedy Todd-Williams came through with 18 points and her season-best in rebounds (9).
Ole Miss forced a season-high 26 turnovers and also bullied Florida on the glass. The Rebels finished with 55 rebounds and a +28 rebounding advantage. Tyia Singleton set a new personal best for the year for boards (12).
The Rebels trailed 34-26 at the half.
However, they were able to pull within four in the early minutes of the third quarter. The Gators, however, were seemingly able to regain control at 50-45.
Ole Miss pulled within a single possession with 7:21 remaining. The teams went back-and-forth in the final minutes until Davis hit a game-tying jumper at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
The Rebels out-scored the Gators, 13-3, in the period.
Ole Miss next hosts in-state rival Mississippi State on Sunday in the second meeting between the teams on the year. Tipoff is 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
“Not really sure why we came out so flat,” at Florida, McPhee-McCuin said. “We had a great week of practice. But just really proud of the team and how they fought back. Once we got into overtime, I didn’t say a word. They were talking in those huddles and saying, ‘We’re not leaving here without a win.’”
