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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, December 3
Oxford, Miss.
7:30 PM
Ole Miss
2-0,0-0SEC
70
vs
53
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Kansas
2-1,0-0Big 12
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2
3
4
F
Kansas
10
12
23
8
53
Ole Miss
14
19
16
21
70
Rebels Shine in Energetic Win Over Kansas, 70-53
12/3/2020 | Women's Basketball
Box Score<i class="icon-paper"></i> Final Stats (PDF)<i class="icon-camera"></i> Photos<i class="icon-video"></i> Highlights<i class="icon-video"></i> Coach Yo Postgame
First Big 12 Win for Ole Miss Since 2007
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss received two electric offensive outings and timely runs in an impressive team victory over Kansas, 70-53, in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge on Thursday night at The Pavilion.
Highly-touted newcomers Donnetta Johnson (21 points, four steals, three rebounds, two assists) and Shakira Austin (18 points, five rebounds, two blocks) combined for 39 points to pace the Rebels, who again showed prowess on defense as well by forcing 25 turnovers for the second game in a row. The Jayhawks didn't make it easy, neither did playing without Austin for the entire second quarter due to foul trouble. But, Ole Miss combatted that with resolve to avenge a 23-16 third quarter advantage to Kansas with a sublime 21-8 fourth quarter and a 13-3 run to close out the win – the first for the Rebels over a Big 12 team since 2007.
"I thought it was a great game for us," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "I was really concerned about Kansas and their experience level, they're well coached. I knew we would have to disrupt them defensively in order for us to have a chance. I thought that we did that for three quarters, and it ended up paying off for us."
Ole Miss had to withstand two strong offensive outings from the Jayhawks from Holly Hersgieter (20 points, nine rebounds, three assists) and Aniya Thomas (14 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal), but a tenacious Rebel defense forced the aforementioned 25 turnovers to hold its second consecutive opponent to fewer than 60 points. Five different Rebels recorded a steal, highlighted by four from Johnson herself.
"We wanted to dictate and disrupt," McPhee-McCuin said. "We've been working on that. We pick up full court, and we want to be in the passing lane. When you have teams that really thrive on a certain cadence on the offensive end, defensively you have to disrupt that, or they would have really punished us. They run great stuff on the offensive end, so the game plan was just to not allow them to. Not allow them to reverse the ball, not allow them to see open people and just collectively play team defense."
Johnson's offensive prowess was the story of the evening though. After sitting out 2019-20 due to NCAA transfer rules, the Queens native has been key for Ole Miss, and she took her offensive game to another level Thursday night. Johnson eclipsed her previous career high of 11 points by the 7:23 mark of the second quarter, and by game's end she led all scorers with 21 points.
"I felt good, I felt free," Johnson said. "I was able to play the game that I love. I had the opportunity to play tonight and we came out with a win. I was excited to get on the floor with those girls and show the world what we're capable of."
While Johnson had 14 of her 21 by the break, it was the third quarter where Austin – ESPN's No. 1 rated transfer – sought vengeance for missing all 10 minutes of action in the second frame. The Fredericksburg, Virginia native tallied eight of her 18 in the third alone. The fourth quarter was where five-star signee Madison Scott took the stage, scoring all six of her points and hauling in half of her 10 boards in an emotional display of effort down the final stretch.
"Our chemistry is getting better day by day," Johnson said. "I'm learning how to play with Kira more, with Madi. Knowing everybody's shot and the shots that I know they'll make. Putting everyone in a position for success is my biggest challenge right now, but it's coming along day by day."
Ole Miss remains at home to host Alcorn State next Tuesday (Dec. 8) at The Pavilion at 6 p.m. CT.
NOTES
• First win vs. the Big 12 since the 2007 Sweet 16, when Ole Miss took down Oklahoma, 90-82, on March 25.
• Last win over a Power 5 opponent during non-conference play since beating No. 25 Oregon, 83-67, on Dec. 14, 2016 in Oxford.
• Last time Ole Miss led wire-to-wire vs. a Power 5 opponent: Jan. 20, 2019 vs. Florida (76-66)
• Ole Miss has forced 25 turnovers in each of its first two games.
• Under Coach Yo, Ole Miss has now held opponents to five threes or fewer in 40 of her 63 games played.
• Ole Miss has held its first two opponents to 60 points or fewer for the first time since 2016-17.
• Sophomore Donnetta Johnson eclipsed her previous career-high of 11 points by the 7:23 mark of the 2nd Quarter. Johnson ended up with a game-high 21 points.
• Johnson and junior Shakira Austin combined for 39 of the 70 points Ole Miss scored on Thursday. Newcomers accounted for 56 total points, putting the combined total through two games at 144 of 169 (85.2 percent).
• Freshman Madison Scott tallied a game-high and career-high 10 boards, the first freshman to nab double-digit rebounds in a game since Promise Taylor in 2017-18.
• Shakira Austin has had at least one block in each of her last 13 games played dating back to Jan. 30, 2020 at Ohio State during her sophomore season at Maryland.
• Austin took three attempts from beyond the arc vs. Kansas on Thursday. Entering the contest, Austin had tried just one in her career against Indiana on Jan. 20, 2020 while at Maryland.
• Mimi Reid tallied four of Ole Miss' 16 assists, her 11th straight game with at least four assists dating back to Feb. 2, 2020 vs. Alabama. Reid has finished each of her first two seasons at Ole Miss in the SEC top-10 in assists.
• Reid snapped a consecutive free throw streak of 11 that dated back to last season.
• Freshman Caitlin McGee has had at least one three-pointer in each of her first two games as a Rebel.
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
Highly-touted newcomers Donnetta Johnson (21 points, four steals, three rebounds, two assists) and Shakira Austin (18 points, five rebounds, two blocks) combined for 39 points to pace the Rebels, who again showed prowess on defense as well by forcing 25 turnovers for the second game in a row. The Jayhawks didn't make it easy, neither did playing without Austin for the entire second quarter due to foul trouble. But, Ole Miss combatted that with resolve to avenge a 23-16 third quarter advantage to Kansas with a sublime 21-8 fourth quarter and a 13-3 run to close out the win – the first for the Rebels over a Big 12 team since 2007.
"I thought it was a great game for us," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "I was really concerned about Kansas and their experience level, they're well coached. I knew we would have to disrupt them defensively in order for us to have a chance. I thought that we did that for three quarters, and it ended up paying off for us."
Ole Miss had to withstand two strong offensive outings from the Jayhawks from Holly Hersgieter (20 points, nine rebounds, three assists) and Aniya Thomas (14 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal), but a tenacious Rebel defense forced the aforementioned 25 turnovers to hold its second consecutive opponent to fewer than 60 points. Five different Rebels recorded a steal, highlighted by four from Johnson herself.
"We wanted to dictate and disrupt," McPhee-McCuin said. "We've been working on that. We pick up full court, and we want to be in the passing lane. When you have teams that really thrive on a certain cadence on the offensive end, defensively you have to disrupt that, or they would have really punished us. They run great stuff on the offensive end, so the game plan was just to not allow them to. Not allow them to reverse the ball, not allow them to see open people and just collectively play team defense."
Johnson's offensive prowess was the story of the evening though. After sitting out 2019-20 due to NCAA transfer rules, the Queens native has been key for Ole Miss, and she took her offensive game to another level Thursday night. Johnson eclipsed her previous career high of 11 points by the 7:23 mark of the second quarter, and by game's end she led all scorers with 21 points.
"I felt good, I felt free," Johnson said. "I was able to play the game that I love. I had the opportunity to play tonight and we came out with a win. I was excited to get on the floor with those girls and show the world what we're capable of."
While Johnson had 14 of her 21 by the break, it was the third quarter where Austin – ESPN's No. 1 rated transfer – sought vengeance for missing all 10 minutes of action in the second frame. The Fredericksburg, Virginia native tallied eight of her 18 in the third alone. The fourth quarter was where five-star signee Madison Scott took the stage, scoring all six of her points and hauling in half of her 10 boards in an emotional display of effort down the final stretch.
"Our chemistry is getting better day by day," Johnson said. "I'm learning how to play with Kira more, with Madi. Knowing everybody's shot and the shots that I know they'll make. Putting everyone in a position for success is my biggest challenge right now, but it's coming along day by day."
Ole Miss remains at home to host Alcorn State next Tuesday (Dec. 8) at The Pavilion at 6 p.m. CT.
NOTES
• First win vs. the Big 12 since the 2007 Sweet 16, when Ole Miss took down Oklahoma, 90-82, on March 25.
• Last win over a Power 5 opponent during non-conference play since beating No. 25 Oregon, 83-67, on Dec. 14, 2016 in Oxford.
• Last time Ole Miss led wire-to-wire vs. a Power 5 opponent: Jan. 20, 2019 vs. Florida (76-66)
• Ole Miss has forced 25 turnovers in each of its first two games.
• Under Coach Yo, Ole Miss has now held opponents to five threes or fewer in 40 of her 63 games played.
• Ole Miss has held its first two opponents to 60 points or fewer for the first time since 2016-17.
• Sophomore Donnetta Johnson eclipsed her previous career-high of 11 points by the 7:23 mark of the 2nd Quarter. Johnson ended up with a game-high 21 points.
• Johnson and junior Shakira Austin combined for 39 of the 70 points Ole Miss scored on Thursday. Newcomers accounted for 56 total points, putting the combined total through two games at 144 of 169 (85.2 percent).
• Freshman Madison Scott tallied a game-high and career-high 10 boards, the first freshman to nab double-digit rebounds in a game since Promise Taylor in 2017-18.
• Shakira Austin has had at least one block in each of her last 13 games played dating back to Jan. 30, 2020 at Ohio State during her sophomore season at Maryland.
• Austin took three attempts from beyond the arc vs. Kansas on Thursday. Entering the contest, Austin had tried just one in her career against Indiana on Jan. 20, 2020 while at Maryland.
• Mimi Reid tallied four of Ole Miss' 16 assists, her 11th straight game with at least four assists dating back to Feb. 2, 2020 vs. Alabama. Reid has finished each of her first two seasons at Ole Miss in the SEC top-10 in assists.
• Reid snapped a consecutive free throw streak of 11 that dated back to last season.
• Freshman Caitlin McGee has had at least one three-pointer in each of her first two games as a Rebel.
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
Team Stats
KU
OM
FG%
.321
.379
3FG%
.294
.304
FT%
.800
.722
RB
41
41
TO
25
14
STL
9
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
8
3FGM
3
FTM
2
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
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