Women's Basketball Welcomes Kennesaw State to Open the 2022-23 Campaign Monday - Ole Miss Athletics

			OLE MISS (0-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. KENNESAW STATE (0-0, 0-0 ASUN) Monday, Nov. 7 • 5 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. SJB Pavilion (9,500)
Watch • Listen • Live Stats Ole Miss Game Notes • Kennesaw State Game Notes

OXFORD, Miss. –Ole Miss women's basketball kicks off the 2022-23 campaign Monday night, hosting Kennesaw State in the first of back-to-back home games this week. The Rebels are coming off of its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons and return offensive firepower in Preseason SEC Coaches Second-Team honoree Madison Scott and the reigning SEC Sixth-Woman of the Year Angel Baker. Seven newcomers joined Ole Miss in the offseason including six Power Five transfers. Tipoff against the Owls from the SJB Pavilion is slated for 5 p.m. CT, streaming on SEC Network +.

TEAM FACTS

Ole Miss Rebels (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 5th Season at Ole Miss (54-66) • 148-129 career record (10th Season)

Kennesaw State Owls (0-0, 0-0 ASUN)
Head Coach: Octavia Blue • 2nd Season at Kennesaw State (9-19) • 9-19 career record (2nd Season)

ON THE AIR

Television/Online: SEC Network +
Play by Play: Jake Hromada
Analyst: Lindsay King

OLE MISS RADIO

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
Station: 105.1 FM

SERIES NOTES

VERSUS KENNESAW STATE
Ole Miss holds the advantage over Kennesaw State, taking the lone previous meeting in 2017 with a a 92-63 victory over the Owls in Oxford.

Four Rebels concluded the night in double-figures against the Owls, with Shandricka Sessom leading the squad with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds.

REBELS VS. THE ASUN
All-time the Rebels are 18-3 against teams from the A-SUN, with their last matchup against a team from the conference coming in 2018 with an 82-69 win against North Florida from the SJB Pavilion.

SCOUTING THE OWLS
Head coach Octavia Blue enters year two at the helm of the Owls, following a 9-19 finish in her inagural season in 2021-22.

Under her guidance Amani Johnson was named to the ASUN All-Conference Second Team and two ASUN Player of the Week nods.

Johnson returns to the Owls for a graduate season as the program's leader in assists (485), steals (209) and minutes (4,061) and earned WER Preseason First Team accolades. The Owl's leading scorer last season, Johnson averaged 13.9 points per game.

As a team, the Owls were selected to finish 10th in the ASUN following a 5-11 outing in ASUN play last season.

OLE MISS IN SEASON OPENERS
Under McPhee-McCuin, the Rebels are 3-1 in season openers winning nine of its last 10.

Ole Miss has opened up its season the last 13 straight years from the friendly confines of either the Tad Smith Coliseum or the SJB Pavilion.

HERE TO THRIVE
Coming off of a record-breaking season and its best winning percentage since 1993-94, the Rebels are back to prove that last season set the standard.

Highlighted by its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 seasons, Ole Miss returns five from last season's squad including the trio of Snudda Collins, Madison Scott and the reigning SEC-Sixth Woman of the Year Angel Baker.

TWO WINS AWAY...
After hitting a milestone mark at Ole Miss with her 50th win at the helm of the Rebels coming against Texas A&M in February, McPhee-McCuin is on the cusp of yet another career mark.

The fifth-year coach of the Rebels is two wins away from reaching 150 mark in her career. In her five seasons at Jacksonville State, McPhee-McCuin amassed a record of 94-63.

WROTE HISTORY
The 2021-22 Rebels etched their names in the Ole Miss record books, shattering feats that few other teams had accomplished before.

• 13 game winning streak - third longest in program history

• 142 blocks - program single-season record

• 10 SEC wins - second-time in Ole Miss history

• 20th 20-win season, first since 2006-07

• Angel Baker named the SEC Sixth-Woman of the Year.

SET THE STANDARD
The Rebels 23-9 record for an .718 winning percentage marked the program's best winning percentage not only in the four seasons under McPhee-McCuin, but the best since the 1993-1994 season where Ole Miss went 24-9.

WHO'S BACK FOR 2022-23
Despite losing two-time First-Team SEC member Shakira Austin to the WNBA, the Rebels return a strong starting core in Madison Scott and Snudda Collins.

The 2020-21 SEC Freshman of the Year, Scott, started in all 32 games for the Rebels while Collins appeared in all 32 games with 18 starts as a sophomore. Destiny Salary boasts starting experience as well, as the junior made 10 starts last season in 25 games.

Off the bench, Angel Baker was unbeatable averaging 12.4 points per game and dropped six 20-point performances as a reserve. Her key play led to her becoming the first Rebel to be named the SEC Sixth-Woman of the Year.

WHAT'S BACK FOR 2022-23?

• Points: 927 of 2,142 (43.3%)

• Rebounds: 427 of 1,228 (34.8%)

• 3-Pointers: 76 of 102 (74.5%) – Snudda Collins accounted for 44 of 102 (43.1%)

vs. RANKED TEAMS IN 2021-22

• 57.3 PPG / 63.1 PPG allowed

• .365 FG / .403 FG allowed

• .210 3PT / .302 3PT allowed

• .651 FT

• Angel Baker: 10.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, .385 FG

• Snudda Collins: 4.8 PPG, .255 FG, .250 3FG

•Madison Scott: 7.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, .466 FG

RESTOCKED AND RELOADED
Despite losing six seniors, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin retooled and reshaped the Rebels through the use of the transfer portal adding six transfers. All six carry Power-Five playing experience, while three are well versed in the grind of the SEC.

Brooke Moore

• Will sit out the 2022-23 season due to injury

•Spent two seasons at Auburn, before transferring to Purdue

• Averaged 10.3 points per game, as a senior, ranking 10th in the nation in scoring among players with fewer than three starts

• Set a career-high in the First Round of the 2022 WNIT, with 27 points against Southern Illinois

Myah Taylor

• Graduate transfer from Mississippi State

• Left Starkville ranked sixth in total assists (445), third in assists per game (3.9) and eighth in total steals (195)

• As a senior, Led the SEC in assists per game (5.5), ranking 19th overall nationally

• Helped MSU lead the SEC in 2021-22 and rank fifth in the NCAA in fewest turnovers (340)

Marquesha Davis

• Transferred from Arkansas with two years of eligibility remaining

• Appeared in seven games as a junior before deciding to transfer, scoring a season-high 11 points against Sam Houston

• Scored in double-figures four times as a junior, including a career-high 15 points twice

• Honored as a First-Team All-USA Arkansas Girls Basketball selection as a senior out of Springdale High School

Tyia Singleton

• Transferred from Rutgers with two years of eligibility remaining

• Led the Scarlet Knights in blocks for two straight seasons, ranking 10th in the Big Ten as a redshirt junior with 1.0 per game

• Matched a career best last season with 13 rebounds at Nebraska

• Two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree

Elauna Eaton

• Transferred after two seasons at Arkansas alongside Marquesha Davis

• Appeared in 28 games as a redshirt freshman, earning two starts

• Scored a season-high 15 points and seven rebounds against UAPB

• Rated as the No. 9 guard and the No. 41 overall player in the nation out of Nettleton High School

Rita Igbokwe

• Transferred from Pitt with two years of eligibility left

• Played in 30 games as a junior, starting in 26

• Blocked 68 shots ranking 20th in the nation and third in the ACC in 2021-22

• Set a Pitt freshman record, with 60 blocked shots with 17 multi-block games

BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL

The grind of the NCAA Tournament season can wear on teams, yet the Rebel coaching staff set out to build a roster with players set to withstand the season grind.

Nine out of 11 Rebels boast NCAA Tournament experience, with Baker, Salary and Taylor going further than the second round.

NEW KID IN TOWN
Not only did McPhee-McCuin make moves in the transfer portal, she also signed two freshman who look to make an early impact in Oxford.

Ayanna Thompson

• Rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 8 player in Texas by ESPN out of Desoto High School

• Member of the 28-2 team in 2021, winning Desoto's first 6A State Title in program history

•McDonald's All-America honoree

FLOOR GENERAL

Following her standout career in Starkville, Taylor the Mississippi product continues to garner respect nationwide by being named to the Nancy Lieberman Award Preseason Watch-List as one of the top point guards in the country.

THAT'S OUR MADI

Scott has already garnered acclaim throughout the conference as the 2020-21 SEC Freshman of the year and continues to heading into her junior season.

The McDonalds All-American picked up SEC preseason honors, earning a spot on the Second Team All-SEC in the coaches poll.

ANYONE NEED A DIME?
One of the most prolific passers in the conference, Myah Taylor drops dimes at a rate like no other. The Mississippi native led the conference last season with an average of 5.5 assists per game and ranked 19th nationally.

Taylor currently sits at 445 career assists and is 55 away from hitting the 500 mark.

FRESH FACES TO THE BENCH
New faces are abundant for the Rebels on the court, but can be seen on the bench as well with the addition of assistant coaches Bojan Jankovic and Jaida Williams with both joining Ole Miss during the offseason.

The two carry an abundance of basketball knowledge, with Jankovic coming to Oxford from Louisiana Tech and Williams joining the Rebels following a head coaching stint at Coastal Carolina.

Bojan Jankovic

•Boasts over 25 years of coaching experience throughout college and the international circuit

•Earned a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics as an assistant coach with the Serbian Women's National Team

•Spent the last three seasons as an assistant at Louisiana Tech, tutoring LA Tech post players

•Previous stops include, Wyoming, Oral Roberts, Centenary, University of the Ozarks and Texas A&M Commerce

Jaida Williams

•Joined the Rebels following nine seasons at the helm of Coastal Carolina

•Led the Chanticleers to a program record 25 victories in 2019-20 and was named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year

•Carried the Chanticleers to its first posteason appearance, accepting an invitation to play in the 2019 Women's Basketball Invitational

• Prior stops include stints as an assistant coach at Wake Forest, UC Santa Barbara, and South Florida

GAME CHANGER

Following a season writing history with the Rebels, Yolett McPhee-McCuin decided to write a little bit of her own after serving as an assistant coach with the Bahamas Senior Men's National Team during FIBA World Cup qualifiers.

The Freeport, Bahamas, native became the first woman to ever coach at the men's senior national level, following a stint of serving as the head coach for the Bahamas Senior Women's National Team from 2014 through 2017.

BACK IN THE DANCE

Following a 15-year drought, the Rebels once again found themselves back in the national conversation with their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2007, for the program's 18th overall.

With its 18th NCAA Tournament appearance, Ole Miss is one of 37 programs nationally to make 18 or more trips to the dance.

BAKER OFF THE BENCH >>>
There's a reason why Angel Baker was named the SEC's Sixth-Woman of the Year, as the senior's productivity was unmatched.

15 out of her 16 double-digit outings came off of the bench, and all six of her 20-point games happened as a reserve.

Baker is the only Rebel in the 21st century to accomplish that feat with six 20-point games off of the bench.

SIXTH WOMAN UP
One of the best sparks off the bench in the SEC, Angel Baker's impact was validated with the senior earning the SEC's Sixth Woman of the Year award.

With the honor, Baker became the first Rebel to earn the award.

NOISE MAKERS
Rattling off 12 wins in a row through non-conference play, thrusted the Rebels back onto the national stage in December. Tied for the nation's longest winning streak at 12, Ole Miss entered its conference schedule as one of the hottest teams in the nation.

The Rebels didn't cool off either, winning their first SEC opener since 2017 with a 74-56 victory at Florida.

ROAD TOUGH AND TESTED
Time away from home proved to be no issue for the Rebels, starting off 6-0 on the road for the first time since the 1986-87 season.

It also marked the longest road program winning streak since 1993-94.

HISTORY HAPPENS HERE
The win over Vanderbilt was just another milestone set by the Rebels during the 2021-22 campaign as Ole Miss reached 20 wins for the first time since the 2006-07 season for the 20th, 20-win season in program history.

HOLDING IT DOWN
Aggressive defense by the Rebels assisted them to keeping Vanderbilt to only a mere 47 points in the matchup.

The Commodores were the latest victims to the Rebel defense, being the 10th Ole Miss opponent to be kept under 50 points last season as the program record was extended with 10 opponents.

QUIET IN CoMo
Coming in as the nation's fourth best team in field goal percentage, Ole Miss made sure of it that Mizzou could not find the basket, only allowing 45 points.

It marked the fewest points allowed in an SEC road game since January 12, 1991 in a 67-41 win at Mississippi State.

The Rebels also kept Mizzou scoreless from three, the first game in 14 seasons that the Tigers went a game without a triple.

ANY TIME. ANY PLACE.
With the victory at Missouri, the Rebels moved to 8-1 on the road to set the most wins away from home for the program in the 21st century.

The win at Auburn tied the most road wins in a season since 1993-94 at nine.

CAN'T GET PAST THIS
Ole Miss loves to take the ball away from its opponents and for the 15th game last season the Rebels recorded double-digit steals against Vanderbilt.

The 15 games in double-figures are the most in a single season in the McPhee-McCuin era.

AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ole Miss has knocked off a top-10 opponent 29 times in program history, and have defeated a top-25 team a total of 88 times.

When the Rebels are ranked, Ole Miss boasts a record of 314-107 for a .745 winning percentage.

ROAD WARRIORS
The Rebels are dangerous on the road as four straight conference road wins to open SEC play was the longest streak since the 1991-92 season where the Rebels won six straight SEC road games.

RESPECT EARNED
For the first time in 15 seasons, Ole Miss found itself ranked in the Jan. 24 AP Poll coming in at No. 24.

It was the Rebels first appearance in the poll since January 22, 2007.

LONE STAR STATE-MENT
The history books keep being rewritten, as Ole Miss checked off another milestone during the 2021-22 campaign, with its first road win against Texas A&M in the 80-63 victory from Bryan-College Station.

The Ole Miss defense cashed in off of A&M turnovers for a total of 25 points. While the Aggies couldn't hold onto the ball, the Rebels did an exceptional job of taking care of it with a season-low six turnovers.

CASHING IN
Making its opponents pay for its mistakes has been a theme for Ole Miss during conference play, as the Rebels averaged 15.2 points per game off of turnovers.

In three out of 16 SEC games, Ole Miss returned its opponents turnovers for 25 or more points. At Texas A&M, the Rebels returned Aggie turnovers for 25 points, while the Aggies were only able to score two.

WE DEFEND

Defense is the name of the Rebel game and for three games in a row against San Diego State, Cal and New Orleans, Ole Miss held each opponent under 50 points.

The feat was last accomplished by the Rebels in January of 1991 holding Jackson State, Mississippi State and Prairie View A&M under 50 points each.

OFF THE LINE
Three-point defense has been a point of emphasis during the Coach Yo era, with 72 of 113 opponents being held to five or fewer.

1st Season (2018-19)
17-of-31 (54.1%)

2nd Season (2019-20)
21-of-30 (70.0%)

3rd Season (2020-21)
14-of-22 (63.6 %)

4th Season (2021-22)
22-of-32 (68.7%)

UP NEXT
The Rebels continue its opening week homestand, welcoming Southeast Missouri State to the SJB Pavilion on Thursday.

The 6 p.m. matchup against the Redhawks is set to stream on SEC Network +.

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