MISSISSIPPI, USA — The Memphis Tigers might not be competing in March Madness, but one program in the Mid-South is headed to its third straight NCAA Tournament.
Ole Miss Women's Basketball is headed to its 20th NCAA Tournament. After success in the mid-90's, the Rebels rarely played past March. But now, the Rebels are synonymous with March Madness.
When head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin arrived to Ole Miss five years ago, she inherited a team that was bottom of the SEC. She won 22 games during her first two seasons, and now the Rebels just wrapped up their third 20-plus win season in a row.
Number seven seed Ole Miss punched its ticket for the March Madness for a third consecutive season. It is the first time the Rebels have made it to three straight NCAA Tournaments since 1994, 1995 and 1996.
“I’m not going to say that this is all going according to plan, you know, step by step," McPhee-McCuin said. "I have always thought that we could be a perennial tournament team. The next goal is to be a perennial Sweet-16 team.”
Senior Madison Scott has played all four years under coach McPhee-McCuin. She remembers the bad times, but stayed in Oxford and was integral to the Rebels’ success over the past three seasons.
“This being coach Yo’s vision, this is what she talked about in my vision meeting before coming here," Scott said. "To see it all come true. To see all the hard work and to see it happen, it just makes me happy.”
Scott, alongside Marqesha Davis, earned 1st team all-SEC honors after hoisting the Rebels to 12 wins in the conference for the first time ever.
Davis led the in team in points per game (14.6) and field goal percentage (46%).
Soctt is the Rebels in assists per game (3.4).
The historic win landmark was coupled with the program’s first victory over Tennessee in seven years.
Coach McPhee-McCuin said playing in the SEC has helped prepare her squad for the trials and tribulations of March Madness.
“I think the Southeastern conference has prepared us for that," said coach McPhee-McCuin. "Night in and night out, you have to bring your best. It doesn’t matter against who, you have to bring your best. We have been a team that has been challenged. It’s a jungle in the SEC.”
Last season, the Rebels knocked out one seed Stanford in the round of 32 and were eliminated by Louisville in the round of 16.
This season, the team is more experienced, and the Rebels are primed to make another run in the tournament.
Number 7 seed Ole Miss will take on number 10 seed Marquette in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.