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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
#1 South Carolina
Women's Basketball to Challenge No. 1 South Carolina in SEC Tournament Semifinals
3/4/2023 | Women's Basketball
Rebels took Gamecocks to Overtime in Previous Meeting this Season
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2023 SEC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS No. 4 OLE MISS (23-7, 11-5 SEC) No. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA (30-0, 16-0 SEC) Saturday, March 4 • 3:30 p.m. CT • Greenville, S.C. Bon Secours Wellness Arena (15,951)  |
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Watch • Live Stats • Listen
Ole Miss Game Notes |
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TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (23-7, 11-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 5th Season at Ole Miss (77-73) • 10th Season in Career (171-136)
No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks (30-0, 16-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Dawn Staley • 15th Season at South Carolina (395-105) • 23rd Season in Career (568-185)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPNU
Play by Play: Courtney Lyle
Analyst: Carolyn Peck
SEC TOURNAMENT NOTES
Dating back to the first SEC Tournament in 1980, Ole Miss holds a record of 29-41 heading into its second straight semifinal appearance.
The Rebels have never found themselves lifting the trophy at the end of the weekend, but have made two finals appearances and played in 10 semifinals.
Ole Miss has faced off against Arkansas, Auburn and Georgia the most in the tournament with nine meetings against each school.
Last year's SEC Tournament in Nashville was one full of records for the Rebels, with a block party breaking out agains the Florida Gators in the quarterfinals. 11 blocked shots from Ole Miss set a new program tournament record, with Shakira Austin registering a program record with six blocks in a tournament game.
An appearance for Ole Miss in Saturday's semifinals would be its second straight, and its first back-to-back appearance since 1998 and 1989. If the Rebels were to advance to Sunday's finals, it would be for the first time since 1983.
The Rebels lead South Carolina 5-3 in SEC Tournament games and meet once again in this year's semifinals. In Nashville last year, Ole Miss put up a fight but fell short in a 10-point loss at 61-51.
SERIES NOTES
VERSUS SOUTH CAROLINA
The defending National Champions have not skipped a beat, with an unblemished record through 30 games. Dating back to last year, the Gamecocks have now won 36 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 50.9 points per game.
The reigning national player of the year, Aliyah Boston remains one of the best with 13.3 points per game and 9.7 rebounds. Kamilla Cardoso is also one of the top rebounders in the SEC with 8.8 per game.
Zia Cook leads the Gamecocks in scoring with 15.0 points per game, to rank 10th in the SEC.
FIRST MEETING
• 11/25/78 - UM, 84-76 - at Cookville
LAST MEETING
• 02/19/23 - SC, 64-57 (OT) - at Oxford
TEAM NOTES
LAST TIME OUT
In its third straight quarterfinal appearance, despite getting in foul trouble the Rebels pushed past 13th seeded Texas A&M in a gritty 77-60 victory from Bon Secours Arena on Thursday.
Angel Baker dropped another 20 piece with 23 points as the rest of the team rallied together. Madison Scott, Marquesha Davis and Elauna Eaton each finished in double figures as well with 16, 14 and 11 points. Eaton tied a season-high and was feeling herself from deep, going a perfect 3-of-3.
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. Saturday is Ole Miss' 20th 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.
HOT HANDS
Against the Aggies, Ole Miss seemed as if they could not miss while shooting at a 50.8% clip. This marked the second highest shooting percentage this season and the best against an SEC team all year.
