Yolett McPhee-McCuin picks up 200th career win as No. 17 Ole Miss rolls Jackson State
During the middle of the Ole Miss women’s basketball game they saw their ranking improve with the latest Associated Press Top 25 being released. By the end of it the ranking was warranted as the Rebels dominated a third straight opponent.
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin also earned a career milestone as No. 17 Ole Miss beat Jackson State, 76-44.
The Rebels third straight win by at least 32 points was McCuin’s 200th career win as a head coach. This is her seventh season in Oxford.
“When I quickly think about the experience here at Ole Miss, you know, it hasn’t been easy,” McCuin said. “To go ahead and have this opportunity today to clinch the 200th win before I go home to where I was born and raised, I’m grateful.”
As for the game itself on Monday, it was the 21st annual Kids Day game and Ole Miss (3-1) made sure to put on a show in front of a packed SJB Pavilion.
The Tigers of Jackson State outscored the Rebels 13-12 in the second quarter but that was the only bright spot for them.
There was plenty of bright spots for Ole Miss, including its future with freshman Sira Thienou leading all scorers with 16 points in 21 minutes of playing time. The Mali native finished with four rebounds, three steals and an assist.
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“It meant a lot to me because I really believe in Sira. I think she’s one of the best freshmen in the country,” McCuin said. “I know that she does not get, maybe, the notoriety that others get, but she is incredibly special. I think Sira’s greatest gift is when she is on the floor she gives everything she has.”
KK Deans followed Theinou with 10 points while Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams finished with nine points each. Starr Jacobs followed up her performance at Delaware State last week with eight points against the Tigers.
There were 12 different scorers for Ole Miss and McCuin emptied the bench with 14 players getting on the court Monday.
“These games are an opportunity for me to get deep in the bench,” McCuin said. “I played everybody today. Have a chance (to) see what they can do because I don’t want any of our players to say they didn’t get an opportunity. This is their opportunity. I left them out there in that second quarter. Let me leave them out there and play through it. For me it’s not important to get a blowout win or to set a record. It’s important to see who I’m going to be able to depend on (later in the season).”
Ole Miss gets the rest of the week off before traveling to the Bahamas to take on Boston College on November 25 in the Baha Mar Women’s Championship. The Rebels have the potential to play its second Top 3 team this month with No. 2 UConn also in the four-team field. The Huskies will play Oregon State on the first day.
