By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE run in the 2025 Southeastern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament for Grand Bahamian coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her University of Mississippi Lady Rebels ended on Friday night in Greensville, South Carolina.

The unranked Lady Rebels, coming off an impressive second round victory on Thursday night over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, couldn’t sustain their intensity when they needed as they lost 70-63 to the second ranked University of Texas Longhorns at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. 

“I thought tonight was an incredible game. You saw two teams who played incredibly hard. You wouldn’t think that one of them was unranked, especially when we’re playing the number one ranked,” said McPhee-McCuin of her Lady Rebels in the latter. “It should be a blowout, right? Clearly that did not happen. I thought we lacked some aggressiveness in key moments, but overall, I think both teams wanted it, but Texas just wanted it a little more than us so we have to learn from this and prepare for the NCAA Tournament.”

Texas, coached by the SEC Coach of the Year Victor Shaeffer, pulled off their second win over Ole Miss, going back to their regular season 61-58 triumph on January 25th.

Coming over from the Big 12 Conference, the Longhorns made a successful debut in the SEC tournament leading the Lady Rebels from start to finish as they took control of the game for their 13th consecutive victory.

Asked by a reporter what she want people to know about her team, particularly from the match-up, McPhee-McCuin was quite diplomatic in her answer. 

“Did you see the game? Do we look like we’re an unranked team?” she asked the reporter. “There you go.

“We’re not number one. We can’t make the case because we didn’t beat Texas and they’re number one. We darn sure should be in the top 25. I have a lot of respect for Vic. I think he has. lot of respect for me, but nobody wants to see Ole Miss in their bracket.”

The Longhorns outscored the Lady Rebels 32-22 in the paint and were awarded a with an assist on 18 of 24 baskets.

Despite fouling out for the first time in her career, SEC Player of the Year sophomore Madison Booker led Texas with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists; Kyla Oldacre had 12 points and five rebounds; Shay Holle had 11 points and Taylor Jones had 10 points and five rebounds.

For Ole Miss, Deans finished with five three-pointers for a game high 20 points and two assists. Madison Scott had 14 points with nine rebounds and seven assists and Kennedy Todd-Williams added nine points, five rebounds and two assists.

After opening a 23-17 margin at the end of the first quarter, the Longhorns used a 17-16 spurt in the second quarter to post a 40-33 advantage at the half. 

The Lady Rebels only scored seven points in the third quarter and they didn’t have a field goal in the last eight minutes as the Longhorns used an 18-point spurt for a commanding 54-42 at the end of the final break. 

Ole Miss was able to pick up their intensity in the fourth quarter, using a 13-2, highlighted by a back-to-back three-point play and a three-pointer from Kirsten Deans to trim the deficit to 59-55 with 5:19 left on the clock. 

A minute later, Deans canned another three-pointer for a 60-59 deficit. With 58.3 left and trailing 66-62, Deans forced Booker into a charging foul for her fifth to depart the game.

But the Longhorns were able to survive with a couple of free throws as the clock ran out on the Lady Rebels.

While Ole Miss, 20-10, made their exit from the tournament, Texas advanced to Sunay’s final on Sunday, losing 64-45 to the top seeded South Carolina Gamecock, who successfully defended their title. 

Both the Longhorns and the Gamecocks ended the regular season at 15-1, but on a coin flip by commissioner, South Carolina won the top spot, dropping Texas to No.2.

Following the tournament, the focus in the March Madness will turn to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament that will be staged from March 19-April 8.