By Billy Watkins
After a four-game losing streak to end the regular season, Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin warned any doubters that things would turn once the NCAA Tournament arrived.
She knows her team.
The fifth-seeded Ole Miss women routed Gonzaga, 81-66, in a first-round matchup Friday afternoon in Minneapolis. They scored 29 points in the third quarter and led 70-37 at one point.
Ole Miss, 24-11, will play the host team, Minnesota, on Sunday.
To understand how badly Ole Miss dominated the game mentally and physically, check out the quotes from Gonzaga postgame.
“Their physicality in general was probably a little bit of a shock to us,” said 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman post player Lauren Whittaker.
Head coach Lisa Fortier said: “They’re really physical. To start the game, it was 2-0, 5-0, 8-0 (in Ole Miss’ favor). There were a couple of plays when Lauren was getting bear-mauled and I think that’s common in the SEC and that’s not what she’s had to face in our conference.
“It took us a while to get the hang of that. We settled in during the first quarter, but still the pressure they applied was just different. We simulated it the best we could all week but simulation and actuality are so different.”
Gonzaga, 24-10, closed the lead to 10 with Ole Miss’ reserves playing most of the fourth quarter but could get no closer.
One of the key differences against 12th-seeded Gonzaga, champions of the West Coast Conference, was the return of Sira Thienou, a 6-foot-1 sophomore guard who hadn’t played since Feb. 17 due to injury. She scored 12 points and led the team with four blocks and three steals. She tied for the team lead in rebounds with Christeen Iwuala. Each had eight.
McCuin was giddy postgame when asked about Thienou’s return.
“I am a happy camper,” she said. “I think sitting out and watching the games really helped her.”
Latasha Lattimore led Ole Miss with 15 points. Cotie McMahon added 13 and Denim Deshields 11.
Allie Turner led Gonzaga with 27 points.
Deshields, a senior transfer from Mississippi State who added four assists, was averaging just 4.6 points per game prior to Friday.
“Really impressed with Denim,” McCuin said. “Initially, I was kind of upset with her. I felt like she should have commanded the floor more. And then as the game went on, she really started to come on with it
“I just kept telling her ‘That’s the Denim I want to coach.’ She’s the only true point guard on the team. Cotie plays point because she’s so talented but Denim is a point guard. I was really happy the way she delivered.”
McMahon, a transfer from Ohio State, made history. She scored in double digits for the 33rd time this season and moved ahead of Peggie Gillom-Granderson, whose record stood for 46 years.
The Rebels held Gonzaga to 36.5 percent shooting. They forced 21 turnovers, made 14 steals and enjoyed a 42-20 advantage in bench points.
McCuin, who has led the Rebels to five consecutive NCAA Tournament berths, was gracious in victory and praised Gonzaga for “playing the whole way.”
“I remember what it’s like to be on that end of it,” she said. “And even though we didn’t finish the way I would’ve wanted us to finish, I thought it was pretty cool for them to be able to create memories for their fans and what not. I know they’re young so maybe they can build on how they finished.”
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