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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
#1 South Carolina
Women's Basketball Welcomes No. 1 South Carolina in Sunday Showdown
2/18/2023 | Women's Basketball
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OLE MISS (20-6, 9-4 SEC) vs. No. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA (26-0, 13-0 SEC) Sunday Feb. 19 • 3:00 p.m. CT • Oxford, Miss. SJB Pavilion (9,500)  |
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Watch • Live Stats • Listen
Ole Miss Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
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TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (20-6, 9-4 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 5th Season at Ole Miss (74-72) • 10th Season in Career (168-135)
South Carolina Gamecocks (23-1, 11-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Dawn Staley • 15th Season at South Carolina (396-105) • 23rd Season in Career (564-185)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play by Play: Eric Frede
Analyst: Christy Thomaskutty
SERIES HISTORY
VERSUS SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina holds the advantage 27-18 in the series that dates back to 1978. The Gamecocks have claimed the last 16 matchups in the series, with Ole Miss last picking up a win 64-63 at the 2010 SEC Tournament.
This will be the sixth meeting between the Rebels and the Gamecocks with South Carolina ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation.
Last season, Ole Miss met the Gamecocks three times including a matchup in the SEC Tournament Semifinals in Nashville.
FIRST MEETING
• 11/25/78 - UM, 84-76 - at Cookville
LAST MEETING
• 02/25/21 - USC, 68-43 - in Columbia
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
The defending National Champions have not skipped a beat, with an unblemished record through 26 games. Dating back to last year, the Gamecocks have now won 32 straight games in a row.
As the country's top defense, South Carolina ranks first in blocks, field goal percentage defense, and scoring defense holding its opponents to an average of 49.2 points per game.
The reigning national player of the year, Aliyah Boston remains one of the best with 13.0 points per game and 9.7 rebounds. Kamilla Cardoso is also one of the top rebounders in the SEC with 8.5 per game.
Zia Cook leads the Gamecocks in scoring with 15.2 points per game, to rank 10th in the SEC.
TEAM NOTES
LAST TIME OUT
Keeping No. 5 LSU on the ropes in Baton Rouge, Ole Miss was unable to complete the comeback falling to the Tigers, 69-60.
LSU's Angel Reese was dominant, scoring over half of LSU's points with 36. Angel Baker led the Rebels with 21 points, her seventh 20-point outing of the season.
Rita Igbokwe was a force defensively, the leading the team with nine rebounds while also adding a season-high five rejections.
AGAINST NO. 1
If Ole Miss were to defeat the Gamecocks it would be program's second win all-time against an opponent ranked No. 1. Sunday is Ole MIss' 19th game against the top-ranked team in the nation.
The 1977 Rebels defeated the eventual national champions then No. 1 Delta State in a tight 73-72 victory in Oxford.
RITA IGBLOCKWE
A defensive force around the rim at LSU, Rita Igbokwe's five rejections were the most by any Rebel in a single-game this season.
Igbokwe is nine blocks away from hitting 200 in her career. She currently ranks 13th in active blocks with a total of 191.
THE NAME OF OUR GAME
'We Defend' is the name of our game, as Ole Miss is one of the nation's top defensive teams holding its opponents to an average of 55.3 points per game.
This season, Ole Miss has held all but one opponent below its scoring average.
20 WINS AND COUNTING
By hitting the 20-win mark against Kentucky, Ole Miss hit another major milestone as a program with back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1993-94 & 1994-95.
With four games left in the regular season, the Rebels have an opportunity to add to its win total and hit 23 regular season wins for the first time since the 1986-87 team reached the mark.
JOURNEY TO THE TOURNEY
As Selection Sunday quickly approaches, Ole Miss is hoping to hear its name called for the 19th time in program history on March 12.
A second-straight appearance in the big dance would be the first time Ole Miss has reached the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons since 2004 & 2005.
TRY TO SHOOT YOUR SHOT
As one of the top defenses in the conference, its no shock that Ole Miss has been able to dictate and disrupt its last two opponents.
In back-to-back outings, Ole Miss held Florida and then Kentucky to under 30% shooting from the field. UF shot at a 24.1% clip, while UK was held to 26.3%.
The feat is the first time in the 21st century Ole Miss has held two-consecutive SEC opponents to under 30% from the field.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS (LITERALLY)
The defensive prowess from Ole Miss was untouchable against Florida, holding the Gators to shoot 13-of-54 from the field at a 24.1% clip.
Holding the Gators to that mark is the lowest the Rebels have held any SEC opponent to within the last 20 seasons.
AB2K
Eclipsing the 2,000 career-point milestone against Kentucky, Angel Baker accomplished what few in Ole Miss history have done.
Baker is one of four 2,000 career-point scorers to don a Rebel uniform.
Baker also became one of 16 active players in Division I with over 2,000 career points scored.
IT JUST MEANS MORE WINS
The win over the Wildcats also marked a huge accomplishment for the Rebels besides reachign the 20-win mark
By reaching nine SEC wins, its the first time in program history Ole Miss has had back-to-back nine win conference seasons after reaching 10 last year.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
The comfort of the SJB Pavilion has been welcoming to the Rebels this season, with Ole Miss reaching double-digit wins at home two consecutive years in a row for the first time since the 2007-08 & 2008-09 seasons.
Last year, Ole Miss tallied 10 wins at home while this season the Rebels have already reached 13 and counting.
GO OFF QUE
Since jumping back into the starting lineup the last seven games, Marquesha Davis has tallied double-digit outings in each one of them.
Davis is currently averaging 13.9 points per game as a starter in SEC play, on the season she is averaging 9.8 points overall.
COMEBACK KIDS
Trailing by 19 at with 20 minutes remaining, the Rebels came together to do the unthinkable and clawed their way back against Arkanas to force overtime and defeat the Razorbacks.
The feat tied the 9th largest margin overcome in NCAA history and was the largest in program history. It also set the third largest margin overcome in an SEC game.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Back in her home state in front of friends and family, Marquesha Davis sure showed out with a career-high 20-point performance against the Razorbacks.
As an Arkansas transfer, Davis is one of 13 players in Division I this year to score 20 or more points in an outing against her former team.
GO FOR DEEP -- OR DON'T
It's a proven stat that the Rebs defend the three ball well, ranking third in the nation while holding its opponents to 24.2% from beyond the arc.
The Rebels have limited Auburn and Texas A&M to its season lowest from three and Mississippi State and Alabama to its SEC game lowest.
HOT HANDS EQUAL DUBS
When the Rebels find themselves in a groove, the wins are bound to happen. This season when Ole Miss shoots above 40% in a game, the Rebels are bound to win at 18-1.
EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Dubbed as the "offensive" and "defensive" point guards by McPhee-McCuin, Angel Baker and Myah Taylor prove it on the court as one of the most experienced duos in the nation.
Ole Miss is one of 14 programs in the country to have two players with more than 137 games played each.
SWEPT. THE. SIP.
Following its first win in Starkville since 2007 on Jan. 1, Ole Miss continued to make its presence known as the top dog in the state of Mississippi with its 78-63 win on Jan. 26.
The back-to-back regular season wins against the Bulldogs marked the first regular season sweep over MSU since 2004.
SNUDDA SQUAD
No doubt Snudda Collins was feeling herself at home against Mississippi State, with the junior draining a career-high tying five three's off the bench.
With 49 made triples this season and 160 attempts, Collins is climbing her way up the Ole Miss history charts. Collins is 20 made three's away from ranking in the top-five in a single-season.
SHARING IS CARING
Dropping a 20 dimes against Mississippi State, the Rebels showed that sharing the ball proved to be an extreme benefit. The 20 assists were the most in an SEC game by the Rebels this season.
Three Rebels combined for 18 of those 20 dimes, with Angel Baker, Madison Scott and Myah Taylor dishing out six apiece.
The last time Ole Miss had three Rebels with five or more dimes, was last season against Texas A&M from the SJB Pavilion.
ALL BARK. NO BITE.
Not only was the win at Georgia a key piece for the Rebels as they march through conference play, it was the first win in Athens for the program since 2010 and only the second in Ole Miss history.
TAKING IT JUST MEANS MORE SERIOUSLY
With five straight wins to open conference play, Ole Miss kicked off it's SEC season 5-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 season where that team then went on to win 24 games and reach the Elite Eight.
The 2007 Rebels started 5-0 in SEC play, before going 9-5 in the conference.
The 1991-92 Ole Miss squad owns the best SEC program record, as the Rebels went 11-0 en route to an Elite Eight appearance.
MUST PACK - DEFENSE
It's no secret that Ole Miss thrives off its defense, yet with the win over Georgia, the Rebels picked up its third straight SEC road victory.
It's the first time Ole Miss started 3-0 on the road within the conference and the first time since 1991-92 the Rebels have won back-to-back-to back road games against SEC foes.
WHAT'S IN THE SECRET SAUCE?
The correlation between Rebel wins and rebounding is evident, as all 20 Ole Miss wins have come when outrebounding its opponent.
Through 13 games in SEC play, Ole Miss has outrebounded its opponents by an average of +8.4 boards per game.
WE DEFEND LIKE NO OTHER
By locking down the Aggies and holding Texas A&M to only 38 points, Ole Miss once again proved why "We Defend" is at the heart of its program.
The 38 points are the fewest points allowed against an SEC team in program history and the only time in program history holding a conference opponent under 40 points.
OFF THE LINE
Three-point defense has been a point of emphasis during the Coach Yo era, with 95 of 138 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)
23-26 (88.4%)
THE BEST KIND OF THIEVERY
No wonder Ole Miss was able to keep Texas A&M at bay, the Rebels racked up a season-high 14 steals as a team. Ole Miss has recorded double-digit steals in seven games this season.
COME AT THE VET
As one of the most experienced players currently in Division I basketball, Angel Baker sure plays like it as she leads the Rebels averaging 15.0 points per game.
Appearing in 17 games throughout her collegiate career, Baker ranks 11th among active players in career games played.
DYNAMIC DUO
All 17 points scored in the first quarter against Vanderbilt came from the combined duo of Angel Baker and Madison Scott as the pair went on to combine for a total of 39 points.
39 points between Baker and Scott are the most in a single-game by the two in their two seasons together in Oxford.
JUNIOR JUMPS
It's extremely evident that both juniors Snudda Collins and Madison Scott made great strides in the offseason headed into their third seasons in the Oxford, and those numbers are reflected on the court.
Collins
• 2021-22: 5.9 ppg
• 2022-23: 10.6 ppg
• 69.4% increase
Scott
• 2021-22: 9.6 ppg
• 2022-23: 11.8 ppg
• 23.9% increase
• 2021-22: 6.0 rpg
• 2022-23: 8.7 rpg
• 46.7% increase
DON'T LET THE REBS GET HOT: FROM DEEP
Not only was Angel Baker hot from deep against Vanderbilt with a season-high four triples, multiple Rebels felt it from deep going 8-of-16 from beyond the arc.
Snudda Collins, Marquesha Davis, Elauna Eaton, and Ayanna Thompson each added a triple to contribute to the most made three's by the Rebels against an SEC team since 2020.
The Rebels followed this up against Mississippi State at home, draining nine overall three's.
BALLIN' OFF THE BOARDS
There's no doubt that the motto "We Defend" rings true throughout the Ole Miss program, as this squad has been cleaning up off the boards all season.
Ole Miss has outrebounded 10 opponents by a 15+ margin this year, the most in a single year within the last 20 seasons.
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 in Starkville, Myah Taylor eclipsed the 500 career assist mark and continues to add to her total of 535. Taylor currently leads the SEC in active career assists.
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 18 games:
• 1991-92: 17-1
• 1994-95: 15-3
• 2021-22: 16-2
• 2022-23: 16-2
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.
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 18 times this season and obtained eight double-doubles overall for this year.
Overall, Scott has led Ole Miss in rebounds (15x), points (6x), and assists (5x) so far this year. Out of the Rebels' 26 games, Scott has had 5+ rebounds in 22 of them.
OFF THE BOARDS
Ole Miss currently ranks 18th in the nation in offensive rebounds, putting up 373 offensive boards so far this season and averaging 14.3 off the glass.
Madison Scott leads for the Rebels in rebounds, averaging 8.6 boards a game.
#WEDEFEND
Ole Miss is catching national attention in its defensive efforts. The Rebel defense currently ranks 22nd in the nation in scoring defense, holding teams to only 55.3 points. The Rebels also rank 8th in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to an average of 34.5 percent.
Ole Miss is 18-0 when holding its opponent to 60 points and under.
TAYLOR DROPPING DIMES AND TAKING NAMES
Grad transfer Myah Taylor is in high rankings among the Southeastern Conference as the No. 1 active career leader in assists (535). Taylor leads the category with a margin of +109 assists.
The Mississippi-native is also first in the SEC active career leaders for steals with 237 in her career.
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.
TURNOVER TURN UP
Ole Miss has forced a cumulative number of 436 turnovers against its opponents this season. Out of those 436, the Rebels have secured 418 points off turnovers so far this season, averaging 16.6 points off turnovers a game.
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.
TURN UP THE DEFENSE
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.
DEFENSIVE BATTLE AGAINST THE UTES
The Rebel defense continued to show out as they held No. 17 Utah to its then 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.
TURNING UP THE PRESSURE
Defense was the name of the game for Ole Miss, as it forced Southern Miss to 25 turnovers that turned into a whopping 43 points. The last time the Rebels forced at least 25 turnovers was Jan. 6, 2022 at Florida.
The last time Ole Miss managed at least 43 points off turnovers was in 2015 versus Alabama A&M, where the Rebels converted 49 points from turnovers.
NOT IN OUR HOUSE
In Ole Miss' 13 home games of this season, the Rebels have blocked 58 shots at the SJB Pavilion this season.
Together Tyia Singleton (33) and Rita Igbokwe (34) have combined for over half of Ole Miss' 131 blocks this year.
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 14-3 in those games.
Baker currently has 94 career outings in double-digits while Scott has 50.
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.
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.
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.
UP NEXT
Ole Miss will honor its four seniors on Thursday in its final home game from the SJB Pavilion against the Missouri Tigers. The game will be available to stream on SEC Network + at 6 p.m. CT.
