Ole Miss star Cotie McMahon is taking the high road. After a costly foul in the Round of 32 that effectively bounced Ole Miss out of the NCAA Tournament, McMahon is defending the very player who baited her into it.
Minnesota's Amaya Battle did more than just make that winning throw in the final seconds of Rebels vs. the Golden Gophers. She pulled a dirty tactic — which she shamelessly admitted to on national TV with a laugh that led McMahon sitting out in the majority of fourth quarter.
Cotie McMahon steps in to defend Amaya Battle
The outrage among the Rebel Nation was practically uncontrollable after that, and McMahon had to step in herself to dissolve the tension.
“Just wanted to say, by no means necessary should Amaya Battle be getting attacked for what she said in her press,” McMahon said. “She played the game. Basketball is full of tactics, strategy and a little bit of acting. She made a basketball play and hoped for the best. Leave her alone!!”
McMahon's absence disrupting Rebels' momentum against the Gophers was evident, but no one from the Rebels' squad has pinned the blame of the loss on the terrible officiating crew or the dirty tactics.
Although Coach Yo called out the last call being "incorrect" in the "disappointing" officiating, she never actually blamed it for their loss. In fact, she merely took a stand on the urgent need for a league-wide reality check.
Poor whistles have plagued Ole Miss for months, and honestly, most programs would echo that same sideline fury after being robbed of their own rhythm multiple times.
It is only about time before the outrage turns into something that demands instant solution.