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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
South Carolina
No. 24 Rebels Ready for Matchup at No. 1 South Carolina
1/26/2022 | Women's Basketball
Ole Miss to Tipoff against the Gamecocks at 5 p.m. CT Thursday on ESPN
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No. 24 OLE MISS (17-2, 5-1 SEC) at No. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA (18-1, 6-1 SEC) Thursday, January 27 • 5 p.m. CT • Columbia, S.C. Colonial Life Arena  |
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Ole Miss Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – After recieving its first ranking in the AP poll in 15 seasons, No. 24 Ole Miss faces its toughest test to date of the season with a trip to No. 1 South Carolina, Thursday night. Tipoff against the Gamecocks is set for 5 p.m. CT, airing nationally on ESPN.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (17-2, 5-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Yolett McPhee-McCuin • 4th Season at Ole Miss (47-59) • 141-122 career record (9th Season)
South Carolina (18-1, 6-1 SEC)
Head Coach: Dawn Staley • 14th Season at South Carolina (349-104) • 520-184 career record (22nd Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN
Play by Play: Ryan Ruocco
Analyst: Rebecca Lobo
Anaylst: Carolyn Peck
Reporter: Holy Rowe
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Graham Doty
SERIES NOTES
SERIES HISTORY vs. SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina holds the advantage 24-17 in the series that dates back to 1978. The Gamecocks have claimed the last 13 matchups in the series, with Ole Miss last picking up a win 64-63 at the 2010 SEC Tournament.
The last time the Rebels came away with a win in Columbia was in 2009 with a one point 66-65 victory over the Gamecocks.
This will be the third meeting between the Rebels and the Gamecocks with South Carolina ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation.
FIRST MEETING
- 11/25/78 - UM, 84-76 - at Cookville
LAST MEETING
- 02/25/21 - USC, 68-43 - in Columbia
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
As the nation's No. 1 team throughout the entire season, the Gamecocks continue to prove why they're the top programs with five wins this season over top-10 opponents.
The Gamecocks edge Ole Miss in scoring defense, leading the conference holding their opponents to an average of 52.2 points per game and have defeated their opponents by a margin of 19.58 points per game.
Aliyah Boston has been on a tear recently with 12 straight double-doubles as she ranks third in the country with a total of 13 on the year. As a team, South Carolina has been dominant off the glass leading the nation with a rebounding margin of +17.9 per game.
LAST TIME OUT
Facing its third ranked opponent of the season in No. 23 Kentucky, Ole Miss fended off a tough attack from the Wildcats to walk away with a 63-54 win from Rupp Arena this past Saturday.
Ole Miss never trailed, but held off a strong Kentucky team led by WNBA lottery pick Rhyne Howard to pick up its third straight win against the Wildcats and its second win of the season over a ranked opponent.
AGAINST NO. 1
If Ole Miss were to defeat the Gamecocks Thursday night it would be program's second win all-time against an opponent ranked No. 1.
The 1977 Rebels defeated the eventual national champions then No. 1 Delta State in a tight 73-72 victory in Oxford.
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
Ole Miss has knocked off a top-10 opponent 29 times in program history, and have defeated a top-25 teams a total of 87 times.
When the Rebels are ranked, Ole Miss boasts a record of 313-104 for a .750 winning percentage.
SHINING BRIGHT ON THE BIGGEST STAGE
When the TV cameras are on, the Rebels love to put on a show for the national airwaves.
In her last three games on national TV, Shakira Austin has done her best to make her presence known with 20 point outings in each game. Through four national games, Austin is averaging 18.8 points per game.
Lashonda Monk shines just as well, as the guard is also in double figures with 11.3 points per game.
As a team, Ole Miss averages 75.3 points per game with a national audience watching.
NEVER LOST A TURNOVER BATTLE
There's a reason why the Rebels are one of the nation's best in terms of taking care of the ball. Through 19 games, Ole Miss has never lost the turnover battle this year.
Ole Miss leads the SEC with a +6.68 turnover margin per game and ranks 11th in Division I.
SHARPSHOOTING SNUDDA
Once Snudda Collins finds her shot from deep, she's on fire. In her last outing at Kentucky, the sharpshooter tied her season-high with a total of four triples.
The Mississippi native paces the squad with 27 made three's this season, shooting at a 33.3 percent clip from beyond the arc.
THE ROAD WARRIORS KEEP WINNING
Dangerous is one word to describe Ole Miss on the road and it was no different Sunday at Kentucky for its fourth straight road win in SEC play, dating back to last season.
The Rebels have already tied the most road wins in a single-season in the 21st century with a total of six, and the four straight conference road wins is the longest streak since the 1991-92 season where the Rebels won six straight SEC road games.
RESPECT EARNED
For the first time in 15 seasons, Ole Miss found itself ranked in this week's AP Poll coming in at No. 24.
It was the Rebels first appearance in the poll since January 22, 2007 when assistant coach Armintie Herrington (Price) was a senior for the Rebels. The youngest Rebel on the squad, Jaiyah Harris-Smith was four at the time.
LONE STAR STATE-MENT
The history books keep being rewritten, as Ole Miss checked off another milestone during the 2021-22 campaign, with its first road win against Texas A&M in the 80-63 victory from Bryan-College Station.
Ole Miss knocked off the Aggies for only the third time in program history, with the largest margin of victory in the series.
The Ole Miss defense cashed in off of A&M turnovers for a total of 25 points. While the Aggies couldn't hold onto the ball, the Rebels did an exceptional job of taking care of it with a season-low six turnovers.
CASHING IN
Making its opponents pay for its mistakes has been a theme for Ole Miss during conference play, as the Rebels are averaging 17.3 points per game off of turnovers.
In three out of six SEC games, Ole Miss has returned its opponents turnovers for 25 or more points. Against Texas A&M, the Rebels returned Aggie turnovers for 25 points, while the Aggies were only able to score two.
ANOTHER MONK MILESTONE
Lashonda Monk has had herself quite the month of January, as the graduate transfer has been averaging 13.2 points per game with six straight double-figure outings.
At Texas A&M, her 16 points boosted her to eclipse the 1,500 career point mark. Monk is one of 61 active players in Division I to accomplish the feat.
CLOSING IN ON 1,500
While Lashonda Monk just hit the 1,500 point milestone, Angel Baker is right behind her as the senior is 23 points away.
Once Baker hits the mark, Ole Miss will be one of eight programs in the nation to have two 1,500 point scorers on its roster.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Scoring has been plentiful during this past stretch of SEC games, as three Rebels currently average 10.0+ points per game in conference play.
The last three games have been no exception, as four or more Rebels racked up double-figures in the contests.
THRIVING IN THE SECOND
The second quarter is where the Rebels are most dangerous, as Ole Miss has accounted for the largest majority of its points this season.
The 28 points scored in the second quarter at Texas A&M were the most in a quarter in conference play this season.
HOLDING ON AT ALL COSTS
While the Aggies struggled to take care of the ball, Ole Miss did an exceptional job of it. The Rebels bested its season-low nine turnovers against South Florida, with a total of six against the Aggies.
The six were the fewest in a single-game in the Yolett McPhee-McCuin era, and the lowest in any game since January of 2018 at Florida.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER
Against the Crimson Tide, the 86 points as a team marked the most scored by any Ole Miss team in an SEC game since the Rebels recorded 87 in overtime against Mississippi State in 2014.
Ole Miss met this mark three days later, dropping another 86 points, this time against Mississippi State.
The back-to-back games 80 point outings is the first time the Rebels have dropped 80 or more in two straight SEC games since 2010.
With another 80 point outing against the Aggies, it was the first time in program history that Ole Miss has recorded three straight 80 point games in SEC play.
CRASH THE BOARDS
Off the glass against Mississippi State, Ole Miss dominated the Bulldogs off the boards by a margin of 20 more at 43 to 23. This was the Rebels third game this season with a rebounding margin of 20 or more.
The feat against the Bulldogs was the largest rebounding margin against an SEC team since facing Vanderbilt in January of 2007, where the Rebels outrebounded the Commodores by 20. Former Rebel and current assistant coach, Armintie Herrington (Price) led Ole Miss in that game with a total of 11 rebounds.
TIDE. ROLLED.
The high-flying Rebel offense contributed to another historic mark set against Alabama, as Ole Miss claimed its second straight win in the series.
The 30 point margin of victory against the Crimson Tide was the largest margin of victory against an SEC opponent in 13 seasons. The 2008-2009 Rebels defeated Alabama by 30 points in Oxford.
ALL OUT EFFORT
Through its first six SEC games, Ole Miss is forcing an average of 19.2 turnovers per game. Three out of six conference opponents have turned the ball over 20 or more times, with Florida surrendering an SEC opponent high of 25.
The last time the Rebels forced 20+ turnovers in three straight games, was in 2017 in non-conference games against Middle Tennessee, Arkansas State and South Alabama.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Not only are the Rebels one of the best teams in the SEC in terms of taking the ball away from its opponents, they also continue to prove that they can take care of it as well.
They love to win the turnover battle, as the Rebels currently lead the SEC with an average of 6.68 turnovers less than their opponent each game. This also ranks 11th in all of Division I.
Against Texas A&M, the six turnovers surrendered to the Aggies, were the fewest in any game this season by the Rebels.
HIGH FLYING VETERANS
The senior class has been getting it done lately for the Rebels, as two seniors in Austin plus Baker and graduate Lashonda Monk account as three of the squad's top four scoring options.
Against Mississippi State, the trio combined for 50 of the team's 86 total points.
SHE'S GOT RANGE
We all knew that Shakira Austin has the ability to go to work and get it done in the paint, but the senior also proved that she's got the option of nailing a deep shot when she wants.
Austin hit back-to-back triple's in the fourth quarter against MSU, to set a new-career high.
GOING STREAKING
The past six games have been nice to Lashonda Monk, as she is currently riding a six-game streak of finishing with double-digit points. This is the longest streak of the season for the Greensoboro native.
Shakira Austin continues to be a threat around the rim, with back-to-back multi-block games.
SHE'S STOLEN OUR HEARTS
There's a reason why Lashonda Monk ranks second in the nation in active career steals with a total of 407.
The graduate transfer has a total of 32 so far this season, and recorded a steal in each of the first nine games this season.
After Monk picked up her 400th steal against Alabama, she became of 31 in NCAA history to join the 400 steal club.
FOUL ME ONCE...
The charity stripe has been kind to the Rebels this season, as Ole Miss has used it to its advantage.
Ranking 28th in the nation and third in the conference, the Rebels are averaging 13.2 made shots from the line each game. They also rank 20th nationally and fifth in the conference with a total of 370 attempts.
WORK HARD, GET REWARDED
With 15 trips to the line against Florida, Shakira Austin capitalized off of going hard in the paint to ultimately knock down 10 free throws.
She followed this up the next game against No. 7 Tennessee with 12 trips to the line, to knock down 10 free throws.
Austin's 15 free throw attempts tie the most in a single-game by any SEC player this season. She ranks fourth in the conference in attempts at 110 and third in makes at 76.
KEEPING IT 100
The game at Florida marked an important career milestone for redshirt-senior Mimi Reid, with her 100th game in a Rebel jersey.
The Bronx, N.Y. native has started in 84 percent of her games throughout her four year playing career in Oxford.
SHINING AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
With 26 points against No. 7 Tennessee, Shakira Austin loves to pour it on against ranked opponents.
In her 12 games against ranked opponents as a Rebel, she is currently averaging 18.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
ROAD TOUGH AND TESTED
With wins at Cal, Cincinnati, Hofstra, Florida and Texas A&M, Ole Miss loves to prove its talent nation wide with a record of 6-0 on the road.
This is the first time that the Rebels have begun their time on the road with six wins since the 1986-87 season.
It's the longest program road winning streak since the 1993-94 season.
UNDER PRESSURE
Every road trip Ole Miss makes sure to pack its defense, and the trek to Gainesville was no exception.
The Rebels forced 25 turnovers against the Gators, forcing its opponents to hand over the ball 25 times or more for the fourth game this year.
The 20.6 turnovers forced per game lead the SEC and rank 27th in the country.
STATEMENT. MADE.
Not only did Ole Miss pick up its first ranked win of the season against then No. 18 South Florida, it also was the first non-conference win over a ranked opponent for the program since 2007.
WE'VE GOT AN ANGEL ON OUR SIDE
With a dominant performance at the West Palm Beach Invitational, Angel Baker was named the co-SEC Player of the Week on Dec. 28.
The senior guard was a key piece to the two victories, as Baker averaged 14.5 points per game, shooting 61.5% from the field. In the win over Texas Tech, Baker came off the bench to score a season-high 24 points.
Baker is the first Rebel to earn a weekly SEC nod since Shakira Austin was named the SEC Player of the Week in February of last season.
A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
As Ole Miss continued its remarkable winning streak, the program's six wins in the month of December are the most by any Rebel team since 2016.
PICK POCKET PROS
Ole Miss recorded a season-high 18 steals at Florida, for the most steals in against an SEC opponent since facing Alabama in the 2007 SEC Tournament. The Rebels have recorded double-digit steals in 11 of 19 games this season.
The Rebels have accumulated a total of 202 steals this season ranking second in the SEC and 16th in Division I.
TAKING AND MAKING
Ole Miss has scored 20-plus points off turnovers in 12 of 19 games this season.
Over the last eight games, the Rebels have scored an average 19.4 points off turnovers.
STREAK SETTERS
With 13 wins in a row dating from Nov. 14 through Jan. 6, Ole Miss rode its longest winning streak since the 1991 Rebels won 25 games in a row.
The 13 straight wins ranks third all-time in consecutive victories in program history.
This set the longest streak of McPhee-McCuin's career, and her longest at Ole Miss.
WITNESSING HISTORY
Throughout 2021-22 season, the Rebels continue to rewrite history.
Holding Samford to 48 points set the program record for scoring defense keeping the most opponents under 50 points in a season.
Ole Miss tied the program record against Hofstra, with three other Rebel teams keeping seven opponents under 50. It only took one game later to break that record, keeping its eighth opponent under 50 points.
BLOCK PARTY QUEEN
With her first two of three blocks at Hofstra, Shakira Austin eclipsed the 200 career block mark.
Austin currently ranks fourth in the SEC and 12th nationally with a total of 219 blocks throughout her four year career.
The senior was a menace against the Crimson Tide, with a season-high seven blocks.
The seven deflections were also the most by any Rebel in a single game this year.
DEFENSE > OFFENSE
The Rebels continue to slow down their opponents at a record pace, as 19 games into the season Ole Miss has held eight opponents under 50 points for a program record.
Ole Miss currently ranks No. 15 nationally in scoring defense and second in the SEC, allowing an average of 53.4 points per game.
The pressure on the opposite side of the ball has proven to be too much, as the Rebels rank first in the conference forcing an average of 20.6 turnovers per game.
NOTHING BUT NET
In the first NET Ranking of the season on Dec. 5, Ole Miss debuted as one of the top-50 programs in the nation at 46.
The Rebels continue to climb, hititng a season-low at No. 27 on Jan. 21 after the road win at Texas A&M.
As SEC play continues, the potential of eight top-50 NET matchups awaits with five top-25 as well.
SHOOTING HER SHOT (PERFECTLY)
Against the Bearcats, Madison Scott's 8-of-8 mark to finish with 18 points accomplished a new Rebel feat.
Scott became the only player at Ole Miss in the last 20 seasons to shoot 1.000 or better with eight or more attempts in a single game.
RUNNING DEEP
The Rebel bench has been instrumental this season, contributing 20 or more points in 15 games.
Angel Baker has been the largest contributor off the bench, averaging 9.9 points per game.
WE'VE GOT A FEW ARTISTS
Throughout the season Ole Miss has continued to make its presence known in the paint, scoring an average of 40.3 points in the paint per game.
Ole Miss has posted a season-high 46 points twice this season at Cincinnati and Mississippi State
WE DEFEND
Defense is the name of the Rebel game and for three games in a row against San Diego State, Cal and New Orleans, Ole Miss held each opponent under 50 points.
The feat was last accomplished by the Rebels in January of 1991 holding Jackson State, Mississippi State and Prairie View A&M under 50 points each.
SHUTTING IT DOWN
From the floor against Cal, Ole Miss held an opposing Power Five opponent to the lowest field goal percentage allowed within the past 10 seasons.
The Bears shot 13-of-56 from the field, hitting 23.2 percent of their shots.
The 19 point win over the Bears was the largest margin of victory against a non-conference Power Five team since defeating Wisconsin by 25 points in 2016.
THANKFUL FOR NOVEMBER
The month of November was good to the Rebels with six wins in their first seven games.
This marked the most wins in the month of November for Ole Miss since totaling six in 2017.
OFF THE LINE
Three-point defense has been a point of emphasis during the Coach Yo era, with 65 of 101 opponents being held to five or fewer.
1st Season (2018-19)
17-of-31 (54.8%)
2nd Season (2019-20)
21-of-30 (70.0%)
3rd Season (2020-21)
14-of-22 (63.6 %)
4th Season (2021-22)
14-of-19 (73.7%)
DEFENSE ON LOCK
The Rebels have been unstoppable on the defensive side of the ball, holding their opponents to an average of 53.3 points per game.
The 44 points allowed to the Lady Techsters was the first time since the 2011-2012 season that Ole Miss has kept its opponents under 50 points in back-to-back games. The Rebels followed this up again, keeping San Diego State and Cal under the mark as well.
The Lady Techsters were also held to just a mere 2 points in the second quarter, the fewest amount of points allowed by the Rebels in a quarter since the women's game moved to the format in 2015-2016.
SHARING IS CARING
The Rebels continue to drop dimes at a record pace, recording their eighth 20 plus assist against Texas A&M with 22.
Lashonda Monk tied a career-high with nine against the New Orleans, tying the most in a single-game by a Rebel in 2021.
Against Lamar and MVSU, the Rebels also racked up 24 assists. Against the Devilettes, Reid and Shakira Austin led the team with five a piece, while Austin set a new career-high.
All three outings tied the third most assists in a single game for the Rebels within the last four seasons.
DROPPIN' DIMES
Only 18 games into the season, have written another record into the history books with eight games 20 or more assists, for the most games in a single-season since 1995.
Last season, Ole Miss dished out 20 plus assists in five games, while the program record for the most 20 plus assist games in a single-season is six.
ALL THE WAY UP
Powered by Shakira Austin, the Rebels were absolutely dominant on both sides of the boards, outrebounding their opponents by an average of 20.5 rebounds against Lamar and LA Tech.
The last time the Rebels accomplished this feat was in 2008, out rebounding Alcorn State and Nicholls State by 21 and 22 rebounds a piece.
HOT HANDS x2
Coming off the bench against MVSU, Lashonda Monk and Caitlin McGee combined to go a perfect 10-of-10 from the field.
Monk dropped a then season-high 11 points, while McGee tied her career-high with a total of 13.
The two are the first Rebels to be perfect from the field with five or more attempts since teammate Madison Scott shot 5-of-5 in the season opener against McNeese last season.
OLE MISS EARNS PROGRAM WIN NO. 850
The Rebel win vs. Samford in the First Round of the WNIT marked the 850th win in program history. All-time, Ole Miss is currently 852-583 (.594) in 46 years of NCAA Division I competition. Entering the 2020-21 season, only 44 programs have eclipsed the 850-win threshold.
Follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole MissWBB. You can also follow head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin on Twitter at @YolettMcCuin
