By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

COACH Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss Lady Rebels women’s basketball team’s run at the 2025 NCAA Division Women’s Basketball Tournament came to an end on Saturday.

In the round of the Sweet 16 at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington, the Lady Rebels fell 76-62 to the UCLA Lady Bruins.

It’s Ole Miss’ 12th appearance in the Sweet 16 in its programme history, pushing their overall record in the March Madness top collegiate tournament to 22-11.

And McPhee-McCuin, a native from Grand Bahama, said they appreciated the hospitality they received from the city of Spokane, but they wanted to make their presence felt in the tournament and they did. “When I look at this season, no one wanted us, no one thought we would be here and we’re still here and we got this far,” said McPhee-McCuin in the post-game press conference. “Unfortunately, we ran into a tough team tonight and did not prevail, but, at the end of the day, we will continue to build. This is our second Sweet 16 in two years. If I’m not mistaken, this is UCLA’s third in a row, the third time is a charm, and we will be back again and be able to move forward.”

Two graduating players who participated in the press conference had nothing but praise for McPhee-McCuin and the way she’s been motivating them to play at a high level.

KK Deans, a 5-foot, 8-inch guard, said she was thankful for the opportunity to play at Ole Miss and for McPhee-McCuin in believing in her and all of the players she assembled as a team.

“As a programme, we are on the upward,” she said. “This is the second time in three years that we reached the Sweet 16, so I expect nothing less.

“I expect Sweet 16 to be the goal and I know she’s not going to stop until she gets to the top. So they are surrounded by a great woman, a great coach and a great coaching staff that’s going to push them every day to get to that goal.”

An emotional Tameiya Sandler,  another 5-8 guard, said five years and three schools later, she finally got to find a place she could call home at Ole Miss through the transfer portal from Colorado during the offseason.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to play here at Ole Miss,” she said. “Coach Yo has been tremendous throughout my journey and she really helped me to find my confidence and find myself again, so I’m really thankful just to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. “It was a great journey. I’m proud of what I was able to accomplish here. I’m proud of this team. I’m proud of this programme and I know we will go on and do great things in the future.”

McPhee-McCuin, now in her seventh season at Ole Miss, concurred with her players, indicating that they have put themselves in a position to be a perennial Sweet 16 team, but it will come down to the players they surround with those returning in their line-up.

“Talent matters. Every time I hear about our team, I hear how tough we are. I never hear about coaching and I don’t understand that because I don’t have any All-Americans on my team. 

“Every team we play, they have five All-Americans. So clearing from a coaches’ perspective, something is being done right. Now the next level for us to move forward is to be able to do what UCLA did. They have been going Sweet 16, Sweet 16, Sweet 16.”

In achieving that trend, McPhee-McCuin said the Bruins were able to recruit All-American Janiah Barker and bring her off the bench and they added centre Lauren Betts and allowed her to play with Timea Gardiner.

“They went and got pieces that allowed them to move forward,” McPhee-McCuin insisted. “The next step for us is to be able to do the same.”

In making their contribution before they move on to the next chapters in their lives, Sandler paced the Lady Rebels with 14 points, three assists, two steals and a rebound and Deans had 13 points with two rebounds and a block shot. Christeen Iwuala also had 13 points and nine rebounds.

But Ole Miss didn’t have any answer for Betts, who powered her way inside for a game high 31 points with 10 rebounds, three block shots and two assists for the Bruins. Kiki Rice added 13 points with seven assists, three rebounds and a steal.

The Lady Rebels fell behind 19-12 after the first quarter and, as they out-scored the Bruins 17-11 in the second half, they managed to close the deficit to just one (30-29) at the half.

But UCLA went on a 25-15 spurt in the third to push their margin up to 55-44 and they took advantage of a 21-18 spurt in the fourth to secure the deal.

The Rebels finished their season with a 22-11 winloss record and 10-6 in the Southeastern Conference. The Bruins were 33-2 and 16-2 in the Big Ten.

Appearing in its 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in programme history, Ole Miss reaches the big dance for the fourth straight season for the first time since 1989 through 1992.

The Rebels have made it past the first weekend of the tournament in over half of their appearances, making 12 Sweet Sixteens before moving on to five Elite Eights.