.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, January 23
Auburn, Ala.
6 PM
Ole Miss
7-12,0-6SEC
43
at
59
Auburn
7-10,1-5SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Ole Miss
18
2
14
9
43
Auburn
17
4
17
21
59
Auburn Slips Away Late, Ole Miss Falls to Tigers, 59-43
1/23/2020 | Women's Basketball
Deja Cage Led Rebels With 12 Points
AUBURN, Ala. – Ole Miss and Auburn fought tooth-and-nail for nearly 35 minutes, but a late 12-0 run by the Tigers helped create some separation as the Rebels fell, 59-43, at Auburn Arena on Thursday night.
The rollercoaster ride of a game featured five lead changes and several scoring flurries and scoring droughts by both teams throughout. Neither team shot particularly well, going a combined 37-of-128 (.289) from the floor, but the difference came as Auburn (7-10, 1-5 SEC) out-rebounded the Rebels 55-37 and shot 12-of-15 from the charity stripe as Ole Miss (7-12, 0-6 SEC) made it to the line just four times.
"I just felt like we never really attacked," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "I never felt like we were emptying the tank out there for some reason. I don't know if the press made our players nervous, but that's just what it was. They were able to get away in the third and then in the fourth, we just couldn't stay in the game and make shots."
Both teams came out swinging in a ferocious first quarter, as Ole Miss got out to an 18-17 lead after knocking down four three-pointers – two coming from freshman Jayla Alexander (eight points, six rebounds, two steals, one assist) on back-to-back possessions. Ole Miss shot 41.2 percent in that first frame and turned seven Tiger turnovers into 10 points, but things would come to a grinding halt in the second quarter for both squads, as they scored a combined six points – giving Auburn a 21-20 lead at the break.
Junior Deja Cage was the offensive catalyst for the Rebels in the second half, knocking down three of her four three-pointers in the third quarter as Ole Miss bounced back from an 11-0 Auburn run to end the quarter down only four at 38-34. Cage ended with 12 points – all on threes – for her 13th double-digit game of the season. She has hit multiple threes now in 13 games this year, as well as at least three treys in nine games and at least four in five. In her last three games alone she is 10-of-25 (.400) from beyond the arc.
However, that brief offensive explosion by the Rebels slowed again in the fourth quarter as Auburn separated, thanks in large part to another 12-0 run in the late stages of the game.
"I just didn't think we handled the press well going into the third quarter," McPhee-McCuin said. "Nobody was scoring the first two quarters. I just thought they took advantage of the opportunity in the third and never looked back."
Three Tigers scored in double digits: Robyn Benton (17 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals), Brooke Moore (10 points, two steals) and Unique Thompson (10 points, 13 rebounds). Thompson is the NCAA leader in double-doubles with 16 this season, but only got to double-digit points in the last two minutes of action on Thursday.
Ole Miss will now remain on the road, heading to in-state rival No. 9 Mississippi State (16-3, 4-1 SEC) on Sunday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT live on SEC Network.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on Twitter at @YolettMcCuin
The rollercoaster ride of a game featured five lead changes and several scoring flurries and scoring droughts by both teams throughout. Neither team shot particularly well, going a combined 37-of-128 (.289) from the floor, but the difference came as Auburn (7-10, 1-5 SEC) out-rebounded the Rebels 55-37 and shot 12-of-15 from the charity stripe as Ole Miss (7-12, 0-6 SEC) made it to the line just four times.
"I just felt like we never really attacked," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "I never felt like we were emptying the tank out there for some reason. I don't know if the press made our players nervous, but that's just what it was. They were able to get away in the third and then in the fourth, we just couldn't stay in the game and make shots."
Both teams came out swinging in a ferocious first quarter, as Ole Miss got out to an 18-17 lead after knocking down four three-pointers – two coming from freshman Jayla Alexander (eight points, six rebounds, two steals, one assist) on back-to-back possessions. Ole Miss shot 41.2 percent in that first frame and turned seven Tiger turnovers into 10 points, but things would come to a grinding halt in the second quarter for both squads, as they scored a combined six points – giving Auburn a 21-20 lead at the break.
Junior Deja Cage was the offensive catalyst for the Rebels in the second half, knocking down three of her four three-pointers in the third quarter as Ole Miss bounced back from an 11-0 Auburn run to end the quarter down only four at 38-34. Cage ended with 12 points – all on threes – for her 13th double-digit game of the season. She has hit multiple threes now in 13 games this year, as well as at least three treys in nine games and at least four in five. In her last three games alone she is 10-of-25 (.400) from beyond the arc.
However, that brief offensive explosion by the Rebels slowed again in the fourth quarter as Auburn separated, thanks in large part to another 12-0 run in the late stages of the game.
"I just didn't think we handled the press well going into the third quarter," McPhee-McCuin said. "Nobody was scoring the first two quarters. I just thought they took advantage of the opportunity in the third and never looked back."
Three Tigers scored in double digits: Robyn Benton (17 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals), Brooke Moore (10 points, two steals) and Unique Thompson (10 points, 13 rebounds). Thompson is the NCAA leader in double-doubles with 16 this season, but only got to double-digit points in the last two minutes of action on Thursday.
Ole Miss will now remain on the road, heading to in-state rival No. 9 Mississippi State (16-3, 4-1 SEC) on Sunday, Jan. 26. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. CT live on SEC Network.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on Twitter at @YolettMcCuin
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
OM
AUB
FG%
.274
.303
3FG%
.241
.259
FT%
.500
.800
RB
37
55
TO
18
17
STL
12
12
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
4
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballA Glimpse of Team 51: Christeen Iwuala and Tianna Thompson (WBB)
Monday, June 23
PRESSER | Yolett McPhee-McCuin (06-19-25)
Thursday, June 19
PRESSER | Cotie McMahon and Lauren Jacobs (06-19-25)
Thursday, June 19
PRESSER | Madi Scott Drafted by the Dallas Wings (04-14-25)
Monday, April 14