The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE 2021-22 season came to a disappointing end for Yolett McPhee- McCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels women’s basketball programme in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Ole Miss, the no.7 seed in the Wichita Region, suffered a 75-61 upset loss to the no.10 seed South Dakota Coyotes Friday afternoon at the Ferrell Center in Waco, Texas.

“Kudos to South Dakota. It was their time. They were clearly the more experienced team and looked like it,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I am extremely proud of our team. It gives me great joy this programme is headed in the right direction.”

The Coyotes went on to advance to the Sweet 16 with a 61-47 win over the no.2 seed Baylor Bears on their home court yesterday in Waco.

Ole Miss concluded the season 23-9, 10-8 in the SEC to earn an at-large bid. It was their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years.

McPhee-McCuin previously led the Jacksonville Dolphins programme to the Tournament in 2016. She led the programme to its first ASUN Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

McPhee-McCuin led Ole Miss to its first top 25 ranking since 2007. The season was highlighted by a 13-game win streak, the third longest win streak in programme history. It also included wins over three ranked opponents. In conference postseason play, Ole Miss earned its first SEC Tournament Semifinal game appearance in 29 years.

McPhee-McCuin joined the Rebels in 2018 with expectations to rebuild a programme that struggled in recent years and was in the cellar of the SEC.

In her first year at the helm the team finished 9-22, 3-13 in conference play and the season concluded with a first round loss in the SEC Tournament. In year two, The Rebels finished the season at 7-23 and suffered another opening round loss in the tournament.

Last year, the Rebels finished the season 15-12 for their first winning season since 2016-17. After an 11-11 regular season, 4-10 in the SEC, they advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004. Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. They eventually fell to Rice in the WNIT title game.