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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, March 26
Collierville, Tenn.
7 PM
Ole Miss
15-11,4-10SEC
60
vs
50
UNI
17-13,11-7MVC
1
2
3
4
F
Ole Miss
20
11
18
11
60
UNI
11
12
14
13
50
Defense Shuts Down UNI, Ole Miss Advances to WNIT Title Game
3/26/2021 | Women's Basketball
Ole Miss is First SEC Team to Make WNIT Final Since 2003
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. – A stout Ole Miss defense held a potent three-point shooting Northern Iowa to its lowest point total of the season, propelling the Rebel women's basketball team to the WNIT final following a 60-50 slugfest in the semifinal Friday night.
Ole Miss (15-11) is now the first SEC team to advance to the WNIT title game since 2003, when Auburn won the championship. And it did so with a defiant defensive effort, stifling the Panthers (17-13) to just 31.6 percent shooting overall and a paltry 6-of-22 line from beyond the arc after UNI entered in the NCAA top-10 in both threes made and attempted.
The Rebels had another motivating factor back with them on the bench Friday, as head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin returned to action following a three-game absence to start the WNIT while she was recovering from a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Her return to the court was met with deafening approval from a large throng of Ole Miss fans who made the trek to Collierville to welcome her back.
"(UNI) made us earn everything," McPhee-McCuin said. "We emptied the tank defensively, so we did not have much offensively. But, I'm really proud of our team."
Despite that, Ole Miss was still highly efficient on the offensive side of the game Friday, shooting 45.1 percent overall while also taking advantage of UNI fouls to the tune of a 13-of-20 clip from the charity stripe. Ole Miss has rarely had to rely on the three-ball this entire tournament, shooting a combined 7-of-33 from beyond the arc in four games, but have made up for it tenfold with a field goal percentage of 42.5, an average of 16.5 free throws made per game, a rebounding margin of 11.8 per game, and most importantly, a terrifying defense yielding only 53.0 points per game and a paltry .346/.217 slash from the field and from three.
SEC Freshman of the Year Madison Scott was a force for the Rebel offense and defense, ending with 14 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high four blocks in her second straight double-double. For Scott, this moment comes as validation not just for all the work her and her teammates have put in this season, but also for her decision as a five-star prospect to commit to an Ole Miss program that hadn't won an SEC game in nearly two years at the time this season began.
"This year, we didn't even think postseason, this was still a rebuilding year. I am so happy, so excited, so grateful for the opportunity and our whole program is grateful," Scott said. "Hard work is truly paying off."
Ole Miss ended with a season-high 12 blocks on the night – four from Scott, three each from Shakira Austin and Snudda Collins, and two from Caitlin McGee – the most by a Rebel unit since 2018.
Austin caused fits offensively as she has all season long, ending with 18 points, eight boards, two assists and one steal to go along with her three rejections. In four WNIT games, Austin's average stat line stands at an absurd 19.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals with a shooting percentage of .578 and a filthy free throw line of 25-of-29 (.862).
Ole Miss nearly led wire-to-wire, but the game was far from in the bag as UNI's potent three-point attack could pull them back into contention at any time. However, the Rebels stood firm, sticking to their goal of fewer than 15 points allowed per quarter. UNI was led by Karli Rucker, who ended with 16 points and five assists against the Rebel defense.
Other Rebels putting in solid performances included Jacorriah Bracey (six points, three rebounds, one steal), Caitlin McGee (four points, six rebounds, two blocks) and Mimi Reid (three points, three rebounds, six assists).
For McPhee-McCuin and Ole Miss, tonight's win puts them one step closer to a goal that seemed implausible following a tough season in 2019-20 and beginning 2020-21 with the NCAA's 10th-youngest roster amid a once-in-a-century global pandemic. The Rebels have defied expectations at every turn, led most nights by their star All-American candidate in Austin, other times by the top ranked freshman class in the SEC, and others by older veterans like Reid who has seen the depths of the rebuild process.
"This experience has been phenomenal," McPhee-McCuin said. "It's incredible for my team. It's incredible for them to get the experience that they are getting. I'm so proud of them. And, it is exactly what we need to springboard to where we want to go."
Awaiting Ole Miss now in the title game is Rice (24-2), who defeated Delaware in their semifinal matchup earlier today, 85-75. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon, with the game set to air live online via the subscription service FloHoops.
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
Ole Miss (15-11) is now the first SEC team to advance to the WNIT title game since 2003, when Auburn won the championship. And it did so with a defiant defensive effort, stifling the Panthers (17-13) to just 31.6 percent shooting overall and a paltry 6-of-22 line from beyond the arc after UNI entered in the NCAA top-10 in both threes made and attempted.
The Rebels had another motivating factor back with them on the bench Friday, as head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin returned to action following a three-game absence to start the WNIT while she was recovering from a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. Her return to the court was met with deafening approval from a large throng of Ole Miss fans who made the trek to Collierville to welcome her back.
"(UNI) made us earn everything," McPhee-McCuin said. "We emptied the tank defensively, so we did not have much offensively. But, I'm really proud of our team."
Despite that, Ole Miss was still highly efficient on the offensive side of the game Friday, shooting 45.1 percent overall while also taking advantage of UNI fouls to the tune of a 13-of-20 clip from the charity stripe. Ole Miss has rarely had to rely on the three-ball this entire tournament, shooting a combined 7-of-33 from beyond the arc in four games, but have made up for it tenfold with a field goal percentage of 42.5, an average of 16.5 free throws made per game, a rebounding margin of 11.8 per game, and most importantly, a terrifying defense yielding only 53.0 points per game and a paltry .346/.217 slash from the field and from three.
SEC Freshman of the Year Madison Scott was a force for the Rebel offense and defense, ending with 14 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high four blocks in her second straight double-double. For Scott, this moment comes as validation not just for all the work her and her teammates have put in this season, but also for her decision as a five-star prospect to commit to an Ole Miss program that hadn't won an SEC game in nearly two years at the time this season began.
"This year, we didn't even think postseason, this was still a rebuilding year. I am so happy, so excited, so grateful for the opportunity and our whole program is grateful," Scott said. "Hard work is truly paying off."
Ole Miss ended with a season-high 12 blocks on the night – four from Scott, three each from Shakira Austin and Snudda Collins, and two from Caitlin McGee – the most by a Rebel unit since 2018.
Austin caused fits offensively as she has all season long, ending with 18 points, eight boards, two assists and one steal to go along with her three rejections. In four WNIT games, Austin's average stat line stands at an absurd 19.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals with a shooting percentage of .578 and a filthy free throw line of 25-of-29 (.862).
Ole Miss nearly led wire-to-wire, but the game was far from in the bag as UNI's potent three-point attack could pull them back into contention at any time. However, the Rebels stood firm, sticking to their goal of fewer than 15 points allowed per quarter. UNI was led by Karli Rucker, who ended with 16 points and five assists against the Rebel defense.
Other Rebels putting in solid performances included Jacorriah Bracey (six points, three rebounds, one steal), Caitlin McGee (four points, six rebounds, two blocks) and Mimi Reid (three points, three rebounds, six assists).
For McPhee-McCuin and Ole Miss, tonight's win puts them one step closer to a goal that seemed implausible following a tough season in 2019-20 and beginning 2020-21 with the NCAA's 10th-youngest roster amid a once-in-a-century global pandemic. The Rebels have defied expectations at every turn, led most nights by their star All-American candidate in Austin, other times by the top ranked freshman class in the SEC, and others by older veterans like Reid who has seen the depths of the rebuild process.
"This experience has been phenomenal," McPhee-McCuin said. "It's incredible for my team. It's incredible for them to get the experience that they are getting. I'm so proud of them. And, it is exactly what we need to springboard to where we want to go."
Awaiting Ole Miss now in the title game is Rice (24-2), who defeated Delaware in their semifinal matchup earlier today, 85-75. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon, with the game set to air live online via the subscription service FloHoops.
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
OM
UNI
FG%
.451
.316
3FG%
.250
.273
FT%
.650
.889
RB
41
29
TO
17
17
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
5
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
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