What a remarkable journey the Rebels have embarked on, solidifying their place in one of the most memorable seasons of the Coach Yo era. Unfortunately, Ole Miss’s campaign came to an abrupt end in a heart-wrenching defeat, falling 63-65 in the Round of 32, just shy of reaching the Sweet 16.
As this chapter closes, Coach Yo and her team are not dwelling on their disappointment; instead, they are embracing accountability for what went wrong. They have also been vocal about the need for change in certain aspects of their game. Here’s a glimpse into the key reflections from Coach Yo, Cotie McMahon, and Christeen Iuwala.
Coach Yo’s Opening Statement
“I just thought this was an incredible environment. Shoutout to the Minnesota fans that came out to support women’s basketball, and I know they got a treat by watching two good teams. Disappointed with how we ended the game. I thought there were opportunities from the beginning of the game to the end of the game where we could have taken control of our destiny.”
On the Gophers
“If you want to know how home-court advantage feels… I feel like their fans won them that game today. Just incredible … not discrediting their play. Just an incredible environment.”
“As I close this year and look forward to next year, the goal will be to host at home. So we can have that same type of opportunity! That’s what’s next for this program.”
Cotie McMahon on the impact of foul trouble
“I feel like if I had changed how aggressive I was, then I wouldn’t have found out. I just felt like I was put back in the game to play basketball and do what I do, so I continued to do what I do. I can only control what I can control. I was dealt the cards I was dealt. I just handled it and still tried to make the right plays for my team and the plays that I usually would make, so I wouldn’t say it changed anything.”
Christeen Iwuala on the moment and ending
“I feel like the game didn’t end the way we wanted it to. Like the coach said, there were a lot of things in our control we could have done. And really just honed in on that. I don’t know; it’s just a tough pill to swallow just being in this position.”
Cotie McMahaon on the moment and ending
“We just have to take this one on the chin and get ready for what’s next for everyone.”
Coach Yo on not having Cotie
“I got to see how to answer that without getting into any trouble. I was in the locker room thinking about other star players on teams; I just have never seen them fouled out in a match.
Madness game, I just haven’t… Paige, Caitlin… I don’t want to call the current ones, or someone might say I am tampering or something like that. I just hadn’t seen the best players get fouled out.
Coach Yo on officiating
From my point of view (Coach Yo), the last call was incorrect. One thing I do understand is officials are human, and environments are human, so environments create them to officiate them in a particular type of way. I don’t think that’s why we lost the game. I just know Cotie is the leading scorer, the newcomer of the year, and all of the things, and she plays 20 minutes, and it’s disappointing because these fans deserve more than that, the game deserves more of that, and I just think that officiating as a whole really needs to be looked at, I really do. I am not just talking about this game. Something has to be done; it has to be better.”
On the Rebels’ final play
It was a backscreen for Tash, and I told Sira to just throw it at the rim because Tash is just super athletic and can outjump anybody on that team. But if T’s open, you can also pass it to her because we have seen her bang 7 threes in one game. That last shot was like out of a Disney movie. But we had been defending so well the whole night.
On what’s next:
“I saw some write-ups that Coach Yo is losing seven seniors, so they’ll have to rebuild. We don’t rebuild at Ole Miss… we lost six last year, and we had the best start we ever had here at Ole Miss. We reload! I think I know what’s next. You know I am kind of tired of having to take down Goliath so early. So what’s next is to be able to host.” “”
“If Sira didn’t get hurt, we would have been hosting this year. Those two games we lost in the end really hurt our chances. So next year to host, not even be a four seed but a three seed. It’s about reloading, and that’s the only way to support the program. Plus, to be able to do what we got to do because this is a different environment we are in. You got to be able to have the Jimmys and the Jos and the Jesses and the Jessicas. We built a reputation, and it doesn’t fracture us. We put together a well-oiled machine. Just have to put us in a better position to make a run.”
Ole Miss closes out their season 24-12, 8-8 SEC.