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Ole Miss women head to SEC Tournament looking to lock down host seed for March Madness

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•about 9 hours•

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NCAA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Ole Miss vs Marquette
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin celebrates with the Ole Miss band after defeating the Marquette Golden Eagles 67-55 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The postseason is on for Ole Miss women’s basketball.

Seventh-year head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Co. have their eyes on a hosting prize.

The Rebels finished the regular season 19-9 and 10-6 in the SEC. They’ve now won 10 or more conference games four years in a row and head to the SEC Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, looking to secure a Top 4 hosting seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Ole Miss is firmly back in the conversation after its win over No. 7 LSU in Baton Rouge on Sunday — as reflected in the latest bracketology from ESPN’s Charlie Creme.

The Rebels are trying to host for the first time in 31 years.

“Right now they’re saying we have a chance to host, so that’s pretty cool for our team,” McPhee-McCuin said Tuesday. “We never thought it was off. We knew we had one more game. I kept telling our team, ‘No matter what, we still have a chance and some people don’t.’ We could be playing someone at the bottom and then there’s no chance. 

“This thing is set up for us where you’re going to get two strong chances.”

Ole Miss finished seventh in the SEC to clinch a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament.

The Rebels will get the winner of Missouri and Mississippi State on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

They’re 30-43 all-time in the tournament, having reached 12 semifinals and two finals in program history. They’re seeking their fifth consecutive quarterfinals appearance.

“We’ll talk about what we have to do to possibly seal the deal to host at home,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I think that would be pretty awesome for the city of Oxford.”

SCOTT AND THIENOU NAMED ALL-SEC

Madison Scott on Tuesday became an All-SEC second-teamer for the second time in her decorated Ole Miss career.

Scott is a graduate transfer. She’s a seven-time SEC honoree in her five-year career, including a first-team All-SEC selection and the All-Defensive team twice.

Scott this season led the Rebels in scoring (11.6) and assists (3.8). She’s pulling down 5.2 rebounds. Scott is in the Top 10 in eight different statistical categories in the Ole Miss record books.

“It would mean everything,” Scott said Tuesday of the possibility of Ole Miss hosting an NCAA Tournament game. “I would love to play in front of this great community one or two more times. We’re going to go out there and give our all to try to make that happen.”

Sira Thienou landed on the All-Freshman team. 

She was a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week and collected the most steals per game (2.68) of any freshman in Power 4. She’s third in the SEC and 20th nationally. 

She has 75 overall and is on pace to break the program record for most steals by a freshman. She trails Alisa Scott (81) and Armintie Prince (76).

“I thought Sierra made the case (for the All-Defensive Team) with her steals and what she’s done in the country,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We’re going to head to Greenville and wait to see who we play with Mississippi State and Missouri. Really put a bow on the end of our season with the LSU win, no question.”

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