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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
3-1,0-0SEC
Jackson State
1-3,0-0SWAC
Yolett McPhee-McCuin Earns 200th Overall Career Win
11/18/2024 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – In front of a packed Kids Day crowd, Ole Miss women’s basketball overpowered Jackson State, 76-44, at the SJB Pavilion on Monday morning. Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin earned her 200th win of her overall career, and 106th with Ole Miss.
That’s our coach ??
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) November 18, 2024
Congrats to @YolettMcCuin on win No. 200 ?? pic.twitter.com/QsNAokjkH2
In typical Coach Yo fashion, the Rebels toyed with the Tigers all morning, forcing 29 turnovers and stealing the ball 20 times. It marks the most steals in a single game since securing 24 against Mississippi Valley State on Dec. 28, 2016. Seven players had multiple steals while four players recorded three.
Offensively, Sira Thienou had a career high 16 points in the victory. The freshman phenom scored 13 points against Delaware State last time out but came back for more. She led the team in points for the first time in her career and has double-digit point totals in back-to-back games.
The last time an Ole Miss freshman had 16-plus points was when Madison Scott earned 17 against No. 18 Arkansas, on Feb. 19, 2021.
HAVE! A! DAY! SIRA! ??
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) November 18, 2024
She shot 7-8 and has a new career-high of 16 points! pic.twitter.com/B0LaG7NPTt
KK Deans joined Thienou in the double-digit scoring category with her third game of the season with 10 points or more. Scott scored nine, barely missing out on double digits, but made up for it with five assists, all coming in the second half.
Three players had at least five rebounds, led by Starr Jacobs and Christeen Iwuala with six.
The Rebels went on a 9-0 run to start the game, headed by the Ole Miss defense. Thienou and Deans worked together to make three straight baskets as the Tigers committed four turnovers in the first two minutes of action. Thienou made a pair of layups, while Deans connected on her 10th three-pointer this season.
Ole Miss relied on its trademark defense in the first half. Fueled by an electric crowd on Kids Day, the Rebel defense forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter with eight steals. The environment also caused sloppy defensive play by Jackson State, fouling Ole Miss seven times and putting them in the bonus in the first quarter.
After a dominant first quarter, Ole Miss cooled down in the second as Jackson State made the game interesting. Jackson State worked its way back to a manageable position, trailing 31-22 to Ole Miss entering halftime.
Ole Miss made the proper halftime adjustments and came out swinging in the third quarter. Scott upped the tempo for the Rebels, blocking the Tigers first shot attempt, getting the rebound and creating a fastbreak opportunity for an open Jacobs layup.
That play triggered a 12-0 run for the Rebels, which lasted nearly four minutes. Scott assisted on another fastbreak score to Thienou, which put her over the 10-point mark. Deans and Jacobs each assisted on a pair of layups off turnovers.
With momentum firmly in Ole Miss’ grasp, the Rebels scored six more points in under a minute before the Tigers could answer.
Thienou scored two layups to begin the fourth quarter, solidifying her 16th point. The Rebels then held the Tigers to yet another scoring drought, not allowing Jackson State to score for nearly three minutes and forcing four turnovers. After a couple made shots by Jackson State in the waning minutes, Heloisa Carrera made a pair of layups to fashion the final score, 76-44.
The Rebels will get a week off competition before going international for the second time this season. Ole Miss will compete against Boston College at the Continental Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas on Nov. 25.
New season and single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball season are on sale now. To purchase or learn more about buying season or single-game tickets for women’s basketball, click here or contact the Ole Miss Athletics ticket office.
Follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on X at @YolettMcCuin.
Gallery: WBB vs. Jackson State
