MISSISSIPPI head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin communicates with players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina on January 27 in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
By RENALDO DORSETT
Tribune Sports Reporter
rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
AFTER earning its first Associated Press ranking for the first time in 15 years, the Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme dropped a pair of games against two of the top teams in all of NCAA Division I.
The No.24 Rebels suffered a 69-40 loss to the No.1 South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in South Carolina on Thursday night and followed with a 62-52 loss at home to the No.15 Georgia Bulldogs Sunday night at SJB Pavillion in Oxford, Mississippi.
Ole Miss is now 17-4, 5-3 in the SEC after three straight games against ranked opponents in the conference.
“It was an incredible atmosphere, really disappointed that we couldn’t come out with the win for the crowd,” McPhee-McCuin said after the Georgia loss.
“Another ranked opponent and we are learning as we go.
“This is uncharted territory for us. I thought Georgia played like they’ve been to the tournament before, like they’ve won a lot of games and finished in the top four last year. They were just poised and made the winning plays when it mattered.”
Georgia improved to 16-4 overall and 5-3 in the SEC while South Carolina leads the AP poll at 20-1, 8-1 in the SEC and extended their own win streak in SEC play to eight games.
The Rebels earned multiple honours as the NCAA and United States Basketball Writers Association Team of the Week once they earned the ranking in the AP poll.
Despite the accolades, Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said that for her team to take another leap they have to contend against the top teams in the country.
‘’It was embarrassing to say the least,’’ she said of the loss against South Carolina. “If us getting whooped on national television is going to get us four more wins, I’ll take that.”
The Rebels head back out on the road for their fourth road contest in a five-game stretch with a trip to face the Missouri Tigers on February 3.
Ole Miss has two wins over ranked teams this season, over then No.23 Kentucky Wildcats and a December win over No.18 South Florida.
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