Ole Miss women's basketball falters in SEC Tournament semis again, this time to LSU
Ole Miss women's basketball's list of achievements under coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin is long. But the box corresponding to an appearance in the SEC Tournament final will be left unchecked for at least another season.
The Rebels dropped a 75-67 decision to LSU on Saturday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. The defeat marks the third time in three seasons that Ole Miss will be sent home after losing in the SEC Tournament's semifinal round.
The SEC's upper class has, at times, been difficult for Ole Miss to cope with, but there wasn't much to separate the two sides in this one until late in the game.
Ole Miss (23-8) fell behind by 11 points in the second quarter, but responded to cut the LSU advantage to two points with 6:52 left in the third quarter.
There, a technical foul halted the Ole Miss momentum.
The officials teed up Ole Miss guard Kennedy Todd-Williams after she slammed the ball on the ground following an LSU possession. Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith drilled the ensuing free throws, and a bucket on the next possession put LSU (28-4) ahead by six.
Ole Miss fought back to trim the LSU lead to two before the end of the quarter, but never could find the burst it needed to go ahead. The Tigers began the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run, forcing the Rebels back into chase mode ‒ where they spent most of the game.
That was largely because of the Rebels' failure to exert their usual brand of dominance in the paint.
LSU star Angel Reese bossed the lane to the tune of 17 rebounds and 21 points. During a seven-game winning streak that was snapped by the Tigers, Ole Miss had grabbed, on average, 11 more offensive rebounds than its opposition. LSU claimed a 13-8 advantage on the offensive glass, denying an improved but imperfect Ole Miss offense the extra chances it needs to win.
Madison Scott and Marquesha Davis provide the offense for Ole Miss women's basketball
It took about 30 minutes for first-team All-SEC forward Madison Scott to find her shooting stroke against Florida in the quarterfinals Friday.
She got involved much more quickly against the Tigers,, and the Rebels needed it.
Fighting to stay close for most of the first half, Scott's 13 first-half points helped Ole Miss enter the locker room trailing by eight. Scott finished with 22.
Fresh off her 33-point showing against the Gators, Marquesha Davis was productive again, too. She scored 21 on the night, surpassing the 1,000-point threshold for her career.
Notably, though, the Rebels got just two points from their bench.
FLORIDA RECAP: Marquesha Davis helps Ole Miss women's basketball survive Florida scare, set up LSU rematch
Up next
Ole Miss will now await its NCAA Tournament destination. The field is set to be announced on Sunday, March 17.
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.
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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss women's basketball drops out of SEC Tournament after LSU loss
