Ole Miss Women's Basketball Bow Out of NCAA Tournament in Round 2
Ole Miss Women could not repeat their 2023 NCAA Tournament run, losing to Notre Dame in round 2 of this year's March Madness.
It was a tough day on the court for the Lady Rebels in round 2 of the NCAA Tournament. Notre Dame had too much for Ole Miss, ending their dream of back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances.
The Fighting Irish dominated for large parts of the game despite missing key players through injury. They started the game fast, just like they did in their round 1 win over Kent State. Coach Niele Ivey's side raced to a 21-9 lead after the 1st quarter.
At the half, the Irish were up by 17 points, with the Rebels in disbelief at what had happened. Notre Dame carried on their ascendancy in the 3rd quarter, adding a further 2 points to the lead. Despite an Ole Miss 8-2 run, reducing the deficit to 14 points, they went down to a 71-56 defeat.
Turnover and Shooting Woes for Ole Miss Women
A team that averaged 15 turnovers a game had 10 inside the 2nd quarter. Notre Dame made sure Ole Miss paid for those mistakes, scoring on a handful of turnovers. The Rebels finished with 22 turnovers, a stat that won't help you win a basketball game.
Ole Miss also struggled with getting the ball in the basket, shooting a low 38.6% from the field. They needed to be better from inside the paint, with their limitations as a 3-point shooting team. That showed with the Rebels going 3-12 in 3-point attempts.
The Future of Ole Miss Women's Basketball is Bright
Despite the loss, Ole Miss had their most successful season under Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. The Lady Rebels finished third in the SEC Standings, giving the team their highest finish since the 1991-92 season.
The team also reached 20 wins in the regular season, the third time in as many seasons under Coach Yo. The Rebels also reached 10 conference wins for three straight seasons, the first time in program history.
Ole Miss Women have Madison Scott and the majority of their starting line-up. They will need to replace players like Marquesha Davis, and Tyia Singleton. However, Coach Yo will likely be able to attract more big names from the transfer portal after another good season in Oxford.