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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Thursday, February 27
Knoxville, Tenn.
6 PM
Ole Miss
7-21,0-15SEC
66
at
77
Tennessee
19-9,9-6SEC
1
2
3
4
F
Ole Miss
9
19
22
16
66
Tennessee
20
17
28
12
77
Rebels Come Up Short in Hard-Fought Battle at Tennessee
2/27/2020 | Women's Basketball
Ole Miss Hit a Season-High 12 Three-Pointers
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Ole Miss women's basketball nearly erased a 20-point first half deficit and drained a season-high 12 three-pointers, but Tennessee was able to use its size and timely momentum swings to keep the Rebels at bay, 77-66, in Rocky Top on Thursday night.
Tennessee (19-9, 9-6 SEC) took some licks early after Mimi Reid (21 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) hit the first four Rebel buckets, but the Lady Vols responded with a big 15-1 run to close the first quarter. Tennessee was able to extend to a 33-13 lead by the 3:57 mark of the second quarter, but Ole Miss would not go quietly, hitting nine of its 12 threes in the back half to put a scare into the Lady Vols.
"Just extremely proud of our group," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "Last time we played vs. Tennessee we scored 28 points. It was a tough time for us as a program. The resiliency and character that our team showed the last five games, I've been extremely pleased. This was my first time here at this arena on the Summitt Court. Pat Summitt is someone that I grew up idolizing, and I felt her spirit the whole time."
The spirit was alive with Ole Miss in a tantalizing third quarter in which the Rebels hit five from beyond the arc and shot 46.7 percent overall. The Rebels were able to cut the Lady Vol lead to 45-42 at the 5:14 mark of the third thanks to three consecutive trifectas from junior Deja Cage, who ended up with 22 points on a career-high six threes made – the second-most made by any player in the conference during SEC play this season.
Cage wasn't alone, though, as Reid's 21 points stands as a career high, and Jayla Alexander (12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal) and Taylor Smith (nine points, two rebounds, three assists two steals) each hit multiple three-pointers on the night.
Ole Miss actually won the second and fourth quarters, but the reemergence of national player of the year candidate Rennia Davis in the second half ended up being the difference in the game. The Rebels were able to stymie Davis to just two points in the first half, but Davis went off in the back half, ending up with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Davis also hit a crucial buzzer-beater three at the end of the third quarter that ended up being a key momentum swing for the Lady Vols.
"They were confident and expected shots to go in after they saw a couple fall in," McPhee-McCuin said. "Obviously, we wanted to hit the mid-range jumper and we wanted to be able to make shots from beyond-the-arc."
Tennessee ended the day shooting 43.1 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle, 45-27, but were held to just 5-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Rebels, meanwhile, were obviously strong in the second half, but the slow first quarter ended up being crucial by the final buzzer.
"We had a good feeling coming into the game, I just wish we hit some shots in the first quarter," McPhee-McCuin said. "But we didn't, and at the end of the day, we are going to continue to lay the foundation here at Ole Miss."
The Rebels played in front of 8,225 fans in Thompson-Boling Arena on their Senior Night on Thursday, and for McPhee-McCuin it was special as it was her first time playing at the historic arena.
"This is the house that Pat built. It's inspiring, I love it," McPhee-McCuin said. "I love the fact that not only does Tennessee have a great crowd, they have a knowledgeable crowd. They know the game. The follow, they pay attention."
Ole Miss now returns home to hold its own Senior Day ceremony this Sunday to honor Torri Lewis when it plays host to in-state rival Mississippi State at 1:40 p.m. CT.
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
Tennessee (19-9, 9-6 SEC) took some licks early after Mimi Reid (21 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals) hit the first four Rebel buckets, but the Lady Vols responded with a big 15-1 run to close the first quarter. Tennessee was able to extend to a 33-13 lead by the 3:57 mark of the second quarter, but Ole Miss would not go quietly, hitting nine of its 12 threes in the back half to put a scare into the Lady Vols.
"Just extremely proud of our group," said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. "Last time we played vs. Tennessee we scored 28 points. It was a tough time for us as a program. The resiliency and character that our team showed the last five games, I've been extremely pleased. This was my first time here at this arena on the Summitt Court. Pat Summitt is someone that I grew up idolizing, and I felt her spirit the whole time."
The spirit was alive with Ole Miss in a tantalizing third quarter in which the Rebels hit five from beyond the arc and shot 46.7 percent overall. The Rebels were able to cut the Lady Vol lead to 45-42 at the 5:14 mark of the third thanks to three consecutive trifectas from junior Deja Cage, who ended up with 22 points on a career-high six threes made – the second-most made by any player in the conference during SEC play this season.
Cage wasn't alone, though, as Reid's 21 points stands as a career high, and Jayla Alexander (12 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal) and Taylor Smith (nine points, two rebounds, three assists two steals) each hit multiple three-pointers on the night.
Ole Miss actually won the second and fourth quarters, but the reemergence of national player of the year candidate Rennia Davis in the second half ended up being the difference in the game. The Rebels were able to stymie Davis to just two points in the first half, but Davis went off in the back half, ending up with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Davis also hit a crucial buzzer-beater three at the end of the third quarter that ended up being a key momentum swing for the Lady Vols.
"They were confident and expected shots to go in after they saw a couple fall in," McPhee-McCuin said. "Obviously, we wanted to hit the mid-range jumper and we wanted to be able to make shots from beyond-the-arc."
Tennessee ended the day shooting 43.1 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle, 45-27, but were held to just 5-of-18 from beyond the arc. The Rebels, meanwhile, were obviously strong in the second half, but the slow first quarter ended up being crucial by the final buzzer.
"We had a good feeling coming into the game, I just wish we hit some shots in the first quarter," McPhee-McCuin said. "But we didn't, and at the end of the day, we are going to continue to lay the foundation here at Ole Miss."
The Rebels played in front of 8,225 fans in Thompson-Boling Arena on their Senior Night on Thursday, and for McPhee-McCuin it was special as it was her first time playing at the historic arena.
"This is the house that Pat built. It's inspiring, I love it," McPhee-McCuin said. "I love the fact that not only does Tennessee have a great crowd, they have a knowledgeable crowd. They know the game. The follow, they pay attention."
Ole Miss now returns home to hold its own Senior Day ceremony this Sunday to honor Torri Lewis when it plays host to in-state rival Mississippi State at 1:40 p.m. CT.
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
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Team Stats
OM
UT
FG%
.377
.431
3FG%
.375
.278
FT%
.800
.842
RB
27
45
TO
12
12
STL
7
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
12
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballG
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