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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Sunday, January 19
Starkville, Miss.
2 PM
Ole Miss
at
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Mississippi State
Women’s Basketball Travels to Starkville for Rivalry Matchup Against Mississippi State
1/18/2025 | Women's Basketball
OXFORD, Miss. – The two Magnolia state rivals will meet for the 107th time in program history, as Ole Miss women's basketball takes on Mississippi State on Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2:00 p.m. CT. Tipoff at Humphrey Coliseum will broadcast on SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
RV/RV Ole Miss Rebels (12-5, 3-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 7th Season at Ole Miss (115-89) • 12th Season in Career (209-152)
RV/RV Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-4, 2-3 SEC)
Head Coach: Sam Purcell • 3rd Season at MSU (60-27) • 3rd Season in Career (60-27)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Sam Gore
Color: Andrea Lloyd
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
OLE MISS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sunday's matchup marks the 107th edition of the fabled rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Rebels hold a commanding lead over the Bulldogs in the series with a 67-39 record. The rivals' have played the most games against each other in their history, and is the only series for both teams north of 100 matchups.
The Rebels have a 26-23 record in Starkville against the Bulldogs, while head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin is 4-7 in the series. Ole Miss dominated the early days of the rivalry, winning 48 of the first 50 matches against Mississippi State, including a 33-game win streak from 1982 through 1997. Mississippi State went on a nearly 10-year winning streak against Ole Miss, before Ole Miss snapped it in 2022. The Rebels have won four of the last six matchups in its wake.
The Rebels and Bulldogs split the series last season. Ole Miss claimed victory in the second game of the season, a 75-71 nailbiter in overtime. Madison Scott scored 20 points to lead the team, while Kennedy Todd-Williams and Rita Igbokwe each recorded a double-double.
There have been some historical feats against the Bulldogs, including in 1985 when the Rebels dished out 35 assists, the most in a single game in program history. Individual Rebels have had legacy-defining performances against the Bulldogs, including Sandra Wells dropping a then program record 13 assists in 1978, Armintie Price hauling in 20 rebounds in 2006 and Bianca Thomas draining seven triples in 2009.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Sam Purcell is in his third season as head coach of the Mississippi State women's basketball program. He's led the Bulldogs to a 60-27 record in his tenure, and are 15-4 overall entering Sunday's contest. The Bulldogs are coming off an 86-73 loss to Tennessee.
Mississippi State boasts the 16th-best field goal percentage in the nation, shooting 47.3% through 19 games. It also takes after Ole Miss in the rebounding category, holding the 15th-widest turnover margin in the country at 9.5.
Madina Okot is the catalyst behind the Bulldogs' high efficiency and peak rebounding, as she leads the SEC in shooting percentage and is averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. Her 67.8% shooting is good for second in the nation, and is tops among Power Four conference players. The 6-foot-6 center hauled in 17 rebounds against Memphis for the most by any Bulldog this season. Her efficiency and rebounding have allowed her to record six double-doubles so far this season.
Mississippi State also possesses one of the most prolific active scorers in the SEC in Jerkaila Jordan. The graduate has dropped over 2,100 points in her career, which ranks third among active SEC players. The 2024 All-SEC Second Team member has a season-high 25 points, as well as 15-rebound game against Belmont. She holds the second-most steals, seventh-most rebounds and the 10th-most blocks among active SEC players.
LAST TIME OUT
Ole Miss and freshman Sira Thienou overpowered Florida, 94-69, as the Rebels showcased their most complete outing of the season on Thursday night at the SJB Pavilion.
The Rebels' 94 points is tied for the most by the team this season. It marks the most against an SEC opponent in the head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin era, and the most by a Rebel team versus a conference foe since scoring 95 points against Arkansas on March 2, 2006.
It's also the second-most points Ole Miss has scored against Florida in the series history, the only game with more points was in the very first meeting between the two teams in 1979 when the Rebels scored 101.
Ole Miss' victory marked seven in a row for the Rebels in the series, one win shy of tying the longest winning streak in the series. The 25-point victory is Ole Miss' widest margin of victory against Florida in the two team's series history.
ARE YOU SIRAious?!
Against Florida, Thienou strung together an immaculate 29-point career-high night, exploding for 22 points in the first half alone to become the only Rebel this season to score north of 20 points in a game this season, while also grabbing sole possession of the most points by a Rebel in a single game this season.
Off the back of another career-high five 3-pointers, Thienou went 12-of-17 from the field, tying the most in the SJB Pavilion and marking the most field goals converted by a Rebel since Taylor Manuel made a dozen against Grambling on March 16, 2017. Additionally, the freshman became the first Rebel to eclipse the 200-point mark for the season after making two 3-pointers in the initial five minutes of the game.
Not only was Thienou in command on offense, she also put up an all-time performance on the other side of the court, pickpocketing Florida seven times in total, with six of those steals coming in the first half.
Thienou completed her impressive stat line by notching five assists and five rebounds to her already illustrious day. The Bamako, Mali, native is only the fifth SEC player in the past 10 seasons to tally at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a single game.
TURNOVERS ON TURNOVERS
Ole Miss' defense remains its strung suit, forcing all but one of its seventeen opponents this year to make 15+ turnovers. On average, the Rebels are forcing their opponents to lose the ball 23.5 times a game, ranking 13th in the nation and third in the SEC.
Ole Miss turned defense into offense all night versus Alabama State, scoring a season-high 42 points off of the Lady Hornet's 33 turnovers. Kicking off conference play with a bang, the Rebels scored 37 points off of Auburn's season-high 29 turnovers. Matching both season-highs against Florida, Ole Miss scored 42 points off of 29 forced turnovers.
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE REBELS
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball season are on sale now. To purchase or learn more about buying 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.
TEAM FACTS
RV/RV Ole Miss Rebels (12-5, 3-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 7th Season at Ole Miss (115-89) • 12th Season in Career (209-152)
RV/RV Mississippi State Bulldogs (15-4, 2-3 SEC)
Head Coach: Sam Purcell • 3rd Season at MSU (60-27) • 3rd Season in Career (60-27)
ON THE AIR
Television: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Sam Gore
Color: Andrea Lloyd
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
OLE MISS VS. MISSISSIPPI STATE
Sunday's matchup marks the 107th edition of the fabled rivalry between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Rebels hold a commanding lead over the Bulldogs in the series with a 67-39 record. The rivals' have played the most games against each other in their history, and is the only series for both teams north of 100 matchups.
The Rebels have a 26-23 record in Starkville against the Bulldogs, while head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin is 4-7 in the series. Ole Miss dominated the early days of the rivalry, winning 48 of the first 50 matches against Mississippi State, including a 33-game win streak from 1982 through 1997. Mississippi State went on a nearly 10-year winning streak against Ole Miss, before Ole Miss snapped it in 2022. The Rebels have won four of the last six matchups in its wake.
The Rebels and Bulldogs split the series last season. Ole Miss claimed victory in the second game of the season, a 75-71 nailbiter in overtime. Madison Scott scored 20 points to lead the team, while Kennedy Todd-Williams and Rita Igbokwe each recorded a double-double.
There have been some historical feats against the Bulldogs, including in 1985 when the Rebels dished out 35 assists, the most in a single game in program history. Individual Rebels have had legacy-defining performances against the Bulldogs, including Sandra Wells dropping a then program record 13 assists in 1978, Armintie Price hauling in 20 rebounds in 2006 and Bianca Thomas draining seven triples in 2009.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Sam Purcell is in his third season as head coach of the Mississippi State women's basketball program. He's led the Bulldogs to a 60-27 record in his tenure, and are 15-4 overall entering Sunday's contest. The Bulldogs are coming off an 86-73 loss to Tennessee.
Mississippi State boasts the 16th-best field goal percentage in the nation, shooting 47.3% through 19 games. It also takes after Ole Miss in the rebounding category, holding the 15th-widest turnover margin in the country at 9.5.
Madina Okot is the catalyst behind the Bulldogs' high efficiency and peak rebounding, as she leads the SEC in shooting percentage and is averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. Her 67.8% shooting is good for second in the nation, and is tops among Power Four conference players. The 6-foot-6 center hauled in 17 rebounds against Memphis for the most by any Bulldog this season. Her efficiency and rebounding have allowed her to record six double-doubles so far this season.
Mississippi State also possesses one of the most prolific active scorers in the SEC in Jerkaila Jordan. The graduate has dropped over 2,100 points in her career, which ranks third among active SEC players. The 2024 All-SEC Second Team member has a season-high 25 points, as well as 15-rebound game against Belmont. She holds the second-most steals, seventh-most rebounds and the 10th-most blocks among active SEC players.
LAST TIME OUT
Ole Miss and freshman Sira Thienou overpowered Florida, 94-69, as the Rebels showcased their most complete outing of the season on Thursday night at the SJB Pavilion.
The Rebels' 94 points is tied for the most by the team this season. It marks the most against an SEC opponent in the head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin era, and the most by a Rebel team versus a conference foe since scoring 95 points against Arkansas on March 2, 2006.
It's also the second-most points Ole Miss has scored against Florida in the series history, the only game with more points was in the very first meeting between the two teams in 1979 when the Rebels scored 101.
Ole Miss' victory marked seven in a row for the Rebels in the series, one win shy of tying the longest winning streak in the series. The 25-point victory is Ole Miss' widest margin of victory against Florida in the two team's series history.
ARE YOU SIRAious?!
Against Florida, Thienou strung together an immaculate 29-point career-high night, exploding for 22 points in the first half alone to become the only Rebel this season to score north of 20 points in a game this season, while also grabbing sole possession of the most points by a Rebel in a single game this season.
Off the back of another career-high five 3-pointers, Thienou went 12-of-17 from the field, tying the most in the SJB Pavilion and marking the most field goals converted by a Rebel since Taylor Manuel made a dozen against Grambling on March 16, 2017. Additionally, the freshman became the first Rebel to eclipse the 200-point mark for the season after making two 3-pointers in the initial five minutes of the game.
Not only was Thienou in command on offense, she also put up an all-time performance on the other side of the court, pickpocketing Florida seven times in total, with six of those steals coming in the first half.
Thienou completed her impressive stat line by notching five assists and five rebounds to her already illustrious day. The Bamako, Mali, native is only the fifth SEC player in the past 10 seasons to tally at least 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in a single game.
TURNOVERS ON TURNOVERS
Ole Miss' defense remains its strung suit, forcing all but one of its seventeen opponents this year to make 15+ turnovers. On average, the Rebels are forcing their opponents to lose the ball 23.5 times a game, ranking 13th in the nation and third in the SEC.
Ole Miss turned defense into offense all night versus Alabama State, scoring a season-high 42 points off of the Lady Hornet's 33 turnovers. Kicking off conference play with a bang, the Rebels scored 37 points off of Auburn's season-high 29 turnovers. Matching both season-highs against Florida, Ole Miss scored 42 points off of 29 forced turnovers.
STAY CONNECTED WITH THE REBELS
Single-game tickets for the 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball season are on sale now. To purchase or learn more about buying 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.
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Players Mentioned
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