Ole Miss Records Second-Best Shooting Percentage in School History
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The Rebels could not miss, recording the second-best shooting percentage in Ole Miss women’s basketball history en route to a thorough 104-48 victory over Alcorn State at The Pavilion on Tuesday night, the 35th 100-point game in program records.
Six Rebels scored in double digits and contributed to a 61.5 percent overall shooting percentage, falling just shy of the school record of 63.1 clip set vs. New Orleans on Dec. 1, 2004. It wasn’t just shooting, though, as Ole Miss’ 26 assists ranks as the most in a single game since 2009 and it cleaned up on the glass as well, dominating Alcorn 44-26 on the boards.
“I think these games give us the opportunity to get a consistent balance that we can trust in big games,” said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin. “I’m trying to get players to embrace these moments and focus on what we need to focus on. At the end of this month, we play the No. 5 team in the country. That’s how we open SEC play. These games are extremely important for us, and I hope it helps us get the balance we need.”
Ole Miss started out hot and never looked back, scoring its most points in the first quarter since 2018 and its most in the first half since 2017 amid a 64.7 percent clip from the field – the best since Jan. 16, 2014 vs. Vanderbilt (68.0) and the best in non-conference since Dec. 20, 2009 vs. Winston-Salem State (65.6).
Freshman Madison Scott led the charge out of the gates, scoring eight of her 13 in the first frame to get the Rebels going. She chipped in seven rebounds with one block and assist apiece, her second straight game with at least seven boards.
“I thought she played a really good game,” McPhee-McCuin said. “She was aggressive from the start. I think she’s going to be a key for us as we move through the season.”
Other Rebels piling on in double-digits included Shakira Austin (12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals), Donnetta Johnson (11 points, five rebounds, two assists), and freshman Jacorriah Bracey, who recorded her first career double figure game with 12 points, three steals, two rebounds and two assists.
Junior point guard Mimi Reid was one of three different Rebels with at least four assists on a historic night of dishing the rock, but she also added in the scoring column herself with a 12-point outing on a perfect 2-of-2 line from beyond the arc. Reid took off in a dynamic third quarter for the Rebels, scoring six of her 12 as Ole Miss won the frame, 28-6.
Reid entered the evening as the SEC leader in assists this season, and tonight marked her 12th consecutive game with at least four assists dating back to last season.
“I trust Mimi wholeheartedly,” McPhee-McCuin said. “She understands what we need, and I trust her. She is extremely important for our success.”
However, it was senior Valerie Nesbitt who notched the most assists on Tuesday night, dishing out six to go along with her six points.
Freshman Snudda Collins was the star of the final frame, recording 13 of her game-leading 15 points in the fourth, including all three of her trifectas. Collins opened her career with a 23-point outing vs. McNeese State on Nov. 30, the most points ever by a Rebel freshman in their debut in available records.
However, the blistering Ole Miss offensive showing was overshadowed by a late and devastating injury to redshirt freshman Sarah Dumitrescu, who went down in agony holding the opposite knee she severely injured last season. Dumitrescu, who had five points in 12 minutes on Tuesday, was awarded a medical hardship waiver by the SEC after missing most of the 2019-20 season due to an ACL tear she suffered Nov. 26 vs. Sam Houston State.
“My message to the girls was that basketball is a gift, and it can be taken away from us at any point,” McPhee-McCuin said. “You have to cherish it.”
While it awaits news on Dumitrescu’s injury, in the meantime the Rebels will celebrate being 3-0 for the first time since 2016-17 after three impressive victories to start the 2020-21 campaign. Ole Miss will remain at home to host Mississippi Valley State this Saturday (Dec. 12), which will be a doubleheader at The Pavilion with the Rebel women set for 1 p.m. CT and the Ole Miss men at 4 p.m. CT against UNCW.
NOTES
• 61.5 overall shooting percentage ranks second-best in single game shooting in program history; record is 63.1 percent vs. New Orleans on Dec. 1, 2004.
• 64.7 percent first half shooting percentage best since shooting 68.0 percent on Jan. 16, 2014 vs. Vanderbilt (L, 80-74); best in non-conference play since shooting 65.6 percent vs. Winston-Salem State on Dec. 20, 2009.
• Set the most points scored in the Coach Yo era for the second time in three games (scored 99 in season-opener vs. McNeese State).
• 35th 100-point game in program history; first since Nov. 18, 2017 vs. Delaware State and the first 100-point game in The Pavilion. First 100-point game at home since Dec. 29, 2015 vs. Alabama A&M (103-42).
• 56-point win ranks tied for sixth-best in program history; record is 63 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 5, 2004 (112-43).
• Six Rebels scored in double-digits, the second time doing so in the Coach Yo era (vs. Alabama State, Dec. 28, 2019). The previous time Ole Miss had at least six in double figures was vs. Winston-Salem State on Dec. 20, 2009 when seven Rebels hit double-digits.
• 26 assists ranks as the most by a Rebel team since notching 31 vs. Winston-Salem State on Dec. 20, 2009.
• In the Coach Yo era, Ole Miss has now held opponents to five threes or fewer in 41 of her 64 games.
• Ole Miss has held its first three opponents to 60 points or fewer for the first time since 2016-17.
• Ole Miss newcomers scored 77 of the 104 Rebel points on Tuesday (74.0 percent). On the year, Rebel newcomers now account for 221 of 273 total points (81.0 percent).
• Mimi Reid has recorded at least four assists in each of her last 12 games dating back to last season.
• Career-high 12 points for freshman Jacorriah Bracey, her first double-digit game as a Rebel.
