On3 Things to Know: Ole Miss women's basketball begins important weekend with No. 5 LSU

The season has been leading up to these next next two games for the Ole Miss women’s basketball team. Beginning on Thursday the Rebels have two top five opponents in a four-day span, starting at No. 5 LSU.

Two of the last four games are against the top two teams in the Southeastern Conference in No. 1 South Carolina (25-0, 12-0 SEC) and the Tigers (23-1, 11-1). Ole Miss has gone at worst 3-1 in its first three pods, composing of four games each, in SEC play.

Not only have the first 12 SEC games prepared Ole Miss (20-5, 9-3) for this upcoming weekend but ranked opponents in the non-conference schedule have done so as well. There is a wealth of veteran leadership within the Rebels locker room with Madison Scott, Angel Baker and transfer addition Myah Taylor who has played in big games both at Ole Miss and with her previous team Mississippi State.

But beyond that Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has watched her team learn from setbacks, losses and experiences throughout the first 25 games of the season. It has given her the confidence they are ready for whatever may come down in Baton Rouge on Thursday.

“First time in a ruckus environment we kind of got shook up. The second time we played better,” McCuin said on Wednesday. “First time with a team ahead of us we didn’t get off the bus in Knoxville. I expect us to get off the bus in Baton Rouge. This whole group has been learning but they have always shown to have learned after maybe they had shortcomings just as much as when they have learned when things have gone well for them.”

Ole Miss has the opportunity to do what it did over 16 years ago, knocking off a No. 5-ranked LSU team. The previous time was a 77-74 Rebel win in Oxford on Jan. 11, 2007.

Lets take a closer look at the upcoming matchup, with game notes provided by Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations.

SERIES HISTORY VS. LSU

Dating back to their first meeting in 1978, LSU leads Ole Miss all-time holding a 40-22 advantage. The Tigers have taken the last nine meetings, with the Rebels last defeating LSU in 2015, 58-57 in Oxford.

The last time Ole Miss left Baton Rouge with a dub was in a 102-101 three-overtime shootout in 2015. On their home turf, LSU leads in the series 18-9.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS

Under Kim Mulkey in her second season at the helm of the Tigers, the national championship winning coach has propelled the Tigers to new heights with their best start at 23-0 and rising to No. 3 overall in the polls.

LSU remained one of two undefeated teams left in the nation prior to running into No. 1 and defending National Champion South Carolina on Sunday in its first loss of the season, 88-64.

Arguably the most prolific offense in the country, the Tigers rank first in the SEC and third nationally with 85.7 points per game. 

LSU has an angel of their own, with Maryland transfer Angel Reese quickly capturing the attention of the nation as its second leading rebounder. Reese also carries the SEC with 23.2 points per game to go along with her 15.3 boards per game. Prior to South Carolina, Reese had tallied 23 straight double-doubles to start the season.

TAKING ON THE TOP-5

The Rebels have knocked off 12 opponents with an AP ranking of No. 5 or higher, including seven opponents ranked at No. 5.

When unranked, Ole Miss has defeated five opponents with the AP ranking of No. 5. Two of those wins have happened on the road as well.

As an unranked squad, Ole Miss has defeated a No. 5 LSU team before. The 2006-07 team knocked off the fifth ranked Tigers in a 77-74 win in Oxford. A Rebel win over LSU on Thursday would be Ole Miss’ first against an AP top-five team since 2007.

JOURNEY TO THE TOURNEY

As Selection Sunday quickly approaches, Ole Miss is hoping to hear its name called for the 19th time in program history on March 12.

A second-straight appearance in the big dance would be the first time Ole Miss has reached the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons since 2004 & 2005.

TRY TO SHOOT YOUR SHOT

As one of the top defenses in the conference, its no shock that Ole Miss has been able to dictate and disrupt its last two opponents.

In back-to-back outings, Ole Miss held Florida and then Kentucky to under 30% shooting from the field. UF shot at a 24.1% clip, while UK was held to 26.3%.

The feat is the first time in the 21st century Ole Miss has held two-consecutive SEC opponents to under 30% from the field.

BLOCKING HER WAY TO 200

As one of Ole Miss’ leading shot blockers, Rita Igbokwe is 14 blocks away from hitting the milestone of 200 in her career.

Igbokwe sits at 14th in active blocks nationally among current players.