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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Vanderbilt
Women's Basketball Returns Home to Host Vanderbilt in Thursday Night Tilt
1/4/2023 | Women's Basketball
Rebels Coming off First Win at Mississippi State in 15 Seasons
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OLE MISS (13-2, 2-0 SEC) vs. VANDERBILT (9-7, 0-2 SEC) Thursday, Jan. 5 • 6 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. SJB Pavilion (9,500)  |
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Watch • Live Stats • Listen
Ole Miss Game Notes • Vanderbilt Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
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TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (13-2, 2-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 5th Season at Ole Miss (67-68) • 10th Season in Career (161-131)
Vanderbilt Commodores (9-7, 0-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Shea Ralph • 2nd Season at Vanderbilt (25-26) • 2nd Season in Career (25-26)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network +
Play by Play: Jake Hromada
Analyst: Lindsay King
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Station: 105.1 FM
Play by Play: Graham Doty
SERIES HISTORY
VERSUS VANDERBILT
Despite the Commodores holding the series advantage, Ole Miss claimed the last meeting between the two schools with the Rebels toppling Vanderbilt in a back-and-forth 57-47 contest in Nashville.
The Rebel victory over the Commodores marked the first win for the program in Nashville since 1987, as Ole Miss cleaned the glass with a rebounding margin of +16 with a smothering defense.
In Oxford, Ole Miss remains strong with 14 wins on its home court winning the last matchup at the SJB Pavilion 65-60 in 2019.
FIRST MEETING
• 02/06/78 - UM, 85-64 - at Nashville
LAST MEETING
•02/20/22 - UM, 57-47 - at Nashville
SCOUTING THE COMMODORES
In year two of the Shea Ralph era in Nashville, the Commodores enter Thursday's matchup at 9-7 after dropping their first two SEC contests.
Graduate transfer Ciaja Harbison carries Vanderbilt as one of the top scorers in the SEC, averaging 18.54 points per game while also leading the conference in assists with 5.23 a game.
Sacha Washington holds it down on the boards with 7.38 per game to rank ninth in the conference.
TEAM NOTES
LAST TIME OUT
Ole Miss secured its second SEC win of the season on New Years Day by defeating in-state rival Mississippi State, 61-50, in Starkville on Sunday night.
Ole Miss outscored Mississippi State in three out of four quarters. The Rebels held the Bulldogs to 34.5 percent from the field, MSU's lowest field goal percentage of the season. The Rebels snagged a season-high of nine blocks to hold their opponent to 50 points and under for the seventh time this season. With the victory, Ole Miss achieved its first win in Starkville since 2007.
Angel Baker dropped 22 points and 10 rebounds to give her second double-double of the season. This is Baker's third time this season to earn 20-plus points, and her 10th this season in double-figures. Baker is now on a hot streak with three straight games dropping 10-plus points.
The Ole Miss defense held the Bulldogs to 16.7 percent from the field in the fourth quarter, only allowing six points from MSU to capitalize the win.
TAKING IT JUST MEANS MORE SERIOUSLY
With back-to-back wins to open conference play, Ole Miss kicks off 2-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season where that team then went on to win 24 games and reach the Elite Eight.
WON BIG IN VEGAS
Ole Miss rung in the New Year in a big way with its first win over Mississippi State in Starkville in 15 seasons.
Around the rim, Rita Igbokwe and the Rebels went to work with a season-high nine blocks as a team with Igbokwe swatting a season-high four shots.
The Rebel defense held the Bulldogs to its lowest point total in the matchup since 2008, holding MSU to 50 points.
500 AND COUNTING
With two assists against Mississippi State, Myah Taylor eclipsed the 500 career assist mark by bringing her total to 501. Taylor currently leads the SEC in active career assists and is one of 16 active players in Division I to achieve that mark.
RIGHT ON TARGET
Through the first week of conference play, Madison Scott ranks third in the SEC, draining .706 percent of her shots. On the season, Scott leads the Rebels in field goal percentage at .506.
Scott went 5-of-7 from the field against Auburn for 13 points and 7-of-10 at Mississippi State for 15 points.
The junior shot .486 percent from the field last season through 32 games.
THE YO EFFECT
Five years into Yolett McPhee-McCuin's guidance at the helm of the Rebels, she is already responsible for two of the program's best starts in the last 30 seasons.
Through the first 15 games:
• 1991-92: 14-1
• 1994-95: 14-1
• 2021-22: 13-2
• 2022-23: 13-2
SEC STATEMENT
In Ole Miss' first SEC game of the 2022-23 season, the Rebels held nothing back as they lead for the entirety of the game against the Auburn Tigers. With the 79-47 win, Ole Miss earned its largest margin victory in SEC play since February 11, 2007 when the Rebels defeated Alabama 84-43.
The Rebels held Auburn to a 25.0 field goal percentage. That is the lowest the Ole Miss defense has held a team in SEC play since January 6th, 1990 where the Rebels held Alabama to a 19.3 field goal percentage.
NOT A SCRATCH
The Auburn Tigers went 0-for-10 from 3-point range, a season-best for the Rebel defense.
Last season, Ole Miss accomplished perfect beyond the arch defense three times in conference play.
BAKER = BUCKET
Angel Baker was key for Ole Miss as she was unstoppable from the beginning by putting up 13 points in just the first quarter against Auburn – the most points in a quarter by Baker this season.
With 22 points against the Bulldogs, Baker stretched her double-digit scoring streak to three straight games and her 10th game with 10 or more points this season.
MY OH MY MADI
Madison Scott earned double-doubles in three straight games to finish the non-conference season, putting up big numbers against Jacksonville (19 points, 17 rebounds), McNeese (18 points, 10 rebounds), and Temple (16 points, 10 rebounds).
The last time a Rebel had three straight double-doubles for Ole Miss was Shakira Austin versus Lamar, LA Tech, and Jackson State in 2021.
The junior grabbed double-digits eight times this season and obtained six double-doubles overall for this year.
Overall, Scott has led Ole Miss in rebounds (10x), points (4x), and assists (2x) so far this year. Out of the Rebels' 15 games, Scott has had 5+ rebounds in 13 of them.
Against Jacksonville and McNeese, Scott had a milestone-filled stretch, as she has not only earned new season highs in points (19) and steals (3), but has also tallied career-best marks in rebounds (17), assists (5), field goals (8) and free throws (8). Against McNeese, Scott secured her 500th career rebound.
DEFENSE LEAD BY DESTINY
Destiny Salary was an added bonus off the bench for Ole Miss in its SEC opener versus Auburn. Salary led the defense to achieve a new career-high in rebounds with 10 boards.
The junior also added four points, three assists, and two steals to the mix to play a key part in the Ole Miss victory.
OFF THE BOARDS
Ole Miss currently ranks 19th in the nation in offensive rebounds, putting up 234 offensive boards so far this season and averaging 15.7 off the glass.
Madison Scott leads for the Rebels in rebounds, averaging 9.1 boards a game. Scott has secured double-digits in rebounds in four out of the last six games for Ole Miss.
#WEDEFEND
Ole Miss is catching national attention in its defensive efforts. The Rebel defense currently ranks 8th in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to only 52.3 points. The Rebels also rank 11th in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to an average of 33.8 percent.
Ole Miss is 13-0 when holding its opponent to 60 points and under.
TAYLOR DROPPING DIMES
Grad transfer Myah Taylor is in high rankings among the Southeastern Conference as the No. 1 active career leader in assists (501). Taylor leads the category with a margin of +114 assists.
The Mississippi-native also is 2nd in the SEC active career leaders for steals with 220 career steals.
SINGLETON SHOWDOWN
Tyia Singleton didn't hold back in her final non-conference game of the season as she shot for double-figures for the fourth time this season.
Singleton shot 50-percent from the field (7-14) while grabbing three blocks, two steals and four rebounds.
MISSISSIPPI TO PHILLY
Ole Miss took over Temple in their final non-conference game of the season with six Rebels gaining new season highs.
Marquesha Davis tied her season-high by draining two three-pointers for Ole Miss.
Rita Igbokwe (3) and Myah Taylor (5) had a standout night on the free throw line.
Tyia Singleton came out hot for Ole Miss, tying her season-high in blocks (3) while also gaining new season-highs in field goals (7) and points (16).
ROUNDIN' UP THE COWGIRLS
Three Rebels shot in double-figures in Ole Miss' final home non-conference game this season with Madison Scott (18), Snudda Collins (14), and Marquesha Davis (14) all getting double digits. 10 of 11 Rebels secured points on the board for Ole Miss.
The Rebels had a bonus on the line as they added 26 points from free throws. Ole Miss converted 19 points off turnovers.
In the second quarter, the Ole Miss defense held McNeese to a dominant 7.1 shooting percentage, only allowing four points from the Cowgirls.
FORWARD PROGRESS
On Wednesday against Jacksonville, Madison Scott and Tyia Singleton both secured double-doubles to give Ole Miss the 66-52 victory over the Dolphins.
Scott and Singleton equally led the offense together, both combining for more than half of Ole Miss' points.
Scott put together a new season-high in points (19) and a career-high in rebounds (17) for her fourth double-double this season. Singleton also updated her career-high in rebounds (15) along with 12 points to give her a second double-double this year.
The last time Ole Miss had two players gain double-doubles in one game was against Mississippi State on January 16, 2022 where Shakira Austin (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Donnetta Johnson (12 points, 10 rebounds) both grabbed double-doubles.
KIDS DAY, BEST DAY
The annual Kids Day is Ole Miss women's basketball's favorite day of the year as it brings high intensity along with high pitched screams.
The iconic Kids Day crowd didn't disappoint, setting a new overall Ole Miss women's basketball program record attendance of 8,958.
Ole Miss holds a perfect 19-0 record against opponents when the kids arrive to the SJB Pavilion.
BAKER IN HER BAG
Angel Baker went three consecutive games scoring at least 18 points. Baker has reached double-figures in scoring 10 times so far this season.
Baker put up an Ole Miss career high against Southern Miss with 25 points (11-16 FG).
Baker was the first 20-point scorer for the Rebels since she put down 23 points versus South Dakota in last season's NCAA Tournament game.
TURNOVER TURN UP
Ole Miss has forced a cumulative number of 275 turnovers against its opponents this season. Out of those 275, the Rebels have secured 312 points off turnovers so far this season, averaging 20.8 points off turnovers a game.
A = BAKER + COLLINS
Both Angel Baker and Snudda Collins are putting up big numbers for the Ole Miss offense. Baker currently leads for Ole Miss with a 14.6 scoring average. Collins is right underneath at 11.9 points per game.
The duo has secured double-digit figures in at least seven games this season.
BAKER UNSTOPPABLE AGAINST THE SOONERS
Angel Baker lit up the floor for Ole Miss in Norman against No. 23 Oklahoma. The senior locked in 22 points to lead Ole Miss offensively and shot 50-percent from the field.
Baker brought down a then season-high of nine rebounds against the Sooners, eight of them being defensive.
RECORD BREAKING REBS
Ole Miss women's basketball is writing their name in the record books, as they've broken two program records this season.
Against Alabama A&M, Ole Miss used a powerful defensive effort to break the program record for single-game points allowed in a decisive 74-28 victory.
The previous record was 30 points allowed against Mississippi Valley State in 2016.
The Rebels held the Bulldogs to zero players in double-digit scoring, the first time since that same MVSU game back in 2016.
After holding the Southern Miss Eagles to seven points in the first half, the Rebels broke the record for the fewest points allowed in a single half in Ole Miss women's basketball history in a dominant 92-46 win.
At the half, Ole Miss held a 48-7 lead against the Eagles. The 41-point margin ranks tied as the fourth-highest scoring margin in a half.
DOUBLE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Madison Scott secured back-to-back double-doubles in the span of 24 hours as Ole Miss held back-to-back games against Texas Southern and Alabama A&M.
Scott went off against Texas Southern, securing 16 points and 15 rebounds and marking new season-highs in both points and boards.
The next night, Scott put up 11 points and 10 rebounds against the Bulldogs to gain her third double-double of the season.
OLE MISS ON THE OVER
Four Rebels secured double-digits against Texas Southern. This marks the second time this season that Ole Miss had four players in double-figures in a game - the last being against No. 17 Utah.
Against Texas Southern, Madison Scott led the offense with 16 points, followed by Destiny Salary (12), Myah Taylor (10), and freshman Ayanna Thompson (10).
TYIA TAKEOVER
Tyia Singleton was all over the floor for the Rebels against Alabama A&M. Singleton recorded 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and three blocks to give Ole Miss the dominant 74-28 victory.
Her three blocks and steals marked as a season-high.
DEFENSIVE BATTLE AGAINST THE UTES
The Rebel defense continued to show out as they held then No. 17 Utah to its lowest scoring total of the season at 69 points. The Utes came into the game averaging 100.2 points per game and were the second-best scoring offense in the nation.
With Ole Miss' defense, it forced the Utes to drop their scoring average by 6 points.
4TH QUARTER MAGIC
Against Dayton, the Rebels outscored the Flyers 21-10 in the final 10 minutes of play, forcing seven turnovers and out-rebounding Dayton 10-5.
Ole Miss went on a 14-0 scoring run with 6:49 left in the fourth quarter, holding Dayton to zero field goals for over seven minutes of play.
Madison Scott and Snudda Collins six points apiece during the run, igniting the Rebel offense and giving Ole Miss a 14-point lead with under three minutes.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR TYIA
Tyia Singleton was the leading scorer for the Rebels against Dayton, putting together her first double-double of the season.
Singleton scored a season-high 14 points and tied her career-high with 13 rebounds, nine of them being offensively.
QUE ON QUEUE
Marquesha Davis has secured double-digits in five games for Ole Miss, breaking her career-high twice.
Against No. 17 Utah, the Arkansas transfer put up 18 points, a new career-high, leading Ole Miss in scoring. The senior also pulled down a season-high eight rebounds and went six-for-six from the free throw line.
BIG NUMBERS FOR BIG TIME PLAYERS
Four Rebels reached double-digits in scoring against then No. 17 Utah.
Marquesha Davis led for Ole Miss with 18 points, Snudda Collins tied her season-high with 16 points, Angel Baker dropped in 13 points, and Myah Taylor hit 10 points for the first time this season.
WE DEFEND ON THE ROAD
The Rebels packed their defense in their suitcase for their first road game of the season at Little Rock. Ole Miss only allowed Little Rock 40 points, the fewest yielded by Ole Miss since winning 59-37 at Hofstra last season.
The Rebels held the Trojans to a 37.8 field goal percentage, shutting down Little Rock to 17-of-45 overall.
TAYLOR KEEPS DEALING
As the SEC's active leader in career assists, Myah Taylor has no issue dishing out assists this season.
Taylor's eight assists against SEMO tied the most in a single-game by any SEC player this season. With six helpers against Kennesaw State, after Taylor's SEMO performace she put up back-to-back games with five or more assists.
Last season down the road at Mississippi State, Taylor led the conference averaging 5.9 assists per game.
WELCOME TO THE PARTY RITA
Pitt transfer Rita Igbokwe made a statement in the second half against SEMO, tallying 10 points and three rejections as well as grabbing three rebounds.
The Jonesboro, Georgia, native ranks in the top-20 nationally in active career blocks with a total of 177.
As a team, the Rebels are averaging 5.1 blocks per game.
DANGEROUS DUO
When both Angel Baker and Madison Scott get going, the two are an unstoppable duo together.
Dating back to last season, when both score in double-figures the Rebels are 9-0 in those games.
Baker currently has 86 career outings in double-digits while Scott has 40.
MILESTONE-ACHIEVED
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 reached yet another career defining mark against SEMO.
The fifth-year coach of the Rebels hit the 150 win mark in her career and her 56th victory at Ole Miss. In her five seasons at Jacksonville State, McPhee-McCuin amassed a record of 94-63.
ANY TIME. ANY PLACE.
The Rebels were a powerful force on the road last season, as 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.
BACK WHERE THEY LEFT OFF
In the season opening 72-60 win against Kennesaw State, four out of the five Ole Miss returners felt right at home in the SJB Pavilion as they each finished their night in double-figures.
Madison Scott pieced together her 11th career double-double off of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Angel Baker matched her with 16 points off of seven field goals.
Snudda Collins contributed 14 points, after shooting 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, while Destiny Salary finished with 12 points for her fourth career game in double-digits.
THIS BLOCK PARTY AIN'T OVER
After breaking the single-season program record last season with a whopping 142 team blocks, Ole Miss proved that its defensive prowess isn't gone.
For the fourth straight outing, the Rebels blocked five or more shots as a team as they finished with a total of eight against the Owls. Madison Scott carried Ole Miss around the rim, with three rejections on her own.
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.
OFF THE LINE
Three-point defense has been a point of emphasis during the Coach Yo era, with 86 of 128 opponents being held to five or fewer.
1st Season (2018-19)
17-of-32 (53.1%)
2nd Season (2019-20)
21-of-30 (70.0%)
3rd Season (2020-21)
14-of-22 (63.6 %)
4th Season (2021-22)
22-of-31 (70.9%)
5th Season (2022-23)
13-15 (86.6%)
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.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss will once again pack its defense and hit the road for a visit to Aggieland to take on Texas A&M in a nationally televised game Sunday. The Rebels look to follow up last season's successful trip, with Ole Miss earning its first ever victory in Bryan-College Station in 2022.
