Ole Miss women put themselves in contention to host in the NCAA Tournament, beating No.7 ranked LSU 85-77. It was a big win for the Rebels, who trailed by 13 points at halftime.
WALK IN YO TRAP.
— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) March 2, 2025
TAKE OVER YO TRAP.#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/6uT6rW36F3
It was a much broader win than defeating a top-ranked team; The Rebs had been dominated the game previously by 2024 NCAA Champs South Carolina.
They had also come close to wins over top-ranked teams USC and Texas, but the win finally gave them that marque win this season.
A good showing in the SEC Tournament will surely have them as a top-16-seeded team for the NCAA Tournament and potentially a host bid. Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin believes Ole Miss deserves to host.
"Check our resume out. Our Quad 1 victories, our Quad 1 losses. The margins. I think we deserve it as much as anybody else. Here's the thing. If we do host, Oxford is going to show up. Oxford loves those type of situations. If we host, great. If we have to go on the road, it is what it is. Our schedule has prepared us for both."Yolett McPhee-McCuin
As Coach Yo mentioned, the team will be ready regardless of the scenario. The win over LSU shows what they can do after many missed opportunities against top-ranked teams. The head coach believes those misses have shaped them during the season.
"We're one possession, we lose to the Big Ten champs in Southern California. We were supposed to beat them, had we inbounded the ball. We're up eight on Texas with two minutes left. If we box out, we win that game ... we have been learning as we go, and it was our time to reap."Yolett McPhee-McCuin
The Lady Rebels will prepare for the SEC Tournament, having a first-round bye. They will face either Mississippi State or Missouri on March 6.