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MINNEAPOLIS — Leading by eight entering the fourth quarter, Ole Miss women’s basketball was in a solid position to beat Minnesota in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 5 seed Rebels (24-12) had built their lead thanks to 25-point third quarter and had pulled momentum away from the No. 4 seed Golden Gophers (24-8) at Williams Arena on March 22.
But just 41 seconds into the final quarter, Cotie McMahon picked up her fourth foul and left the floor. She came back in with 5:44 to play but just over a minute later she was called for a charge and fouled out with 4:22 on the clock and her team up by five.
Without McMahon on the floor, the Rebels’ lead dwindled, Minnesota closed the gap, and Amaya Battle hit a game-winner with 0.8 seconds left to lift the Golden Gophers over the Rebels 65-63.
“I was in the locker room just thinking about other star players on teams. I’ve just never seen them fouled out in a March Madness game," Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. "... And from my point of view, the last call was incorrect. ... I don't think that's why we lost the game. I just know that Cotie is leading scorer, (SEC) Newcomer of the Year, all of the things, and she plays 20 minutes, and it's disappointing."
McPhee-McCuin acknowledged that the environment of 10,763 fans at Minnesota's home arena could have impacted how officials viewed the game and made their calls. She said she was choosing her words carefully to avoid "getting in any trouble," but she made a call for change.
"I do understand officials are human," she said. "... I just think officiating as a whole really needs to be looked at. ... I'm not just talking about this game. Something has to be done"
McMahon played just 21 minutes, tied for a season low, and finished as the team's second-leading scorer with 15 points. She also led Ole Miss with four assists and was one of two Rebels with a positive plus-minus at plus-14.
McMahon dealt with foul trouble throughout the game. By the 7:23 mark in the first quarter, she had picked up two fouls, and McPhee-McCuin elected to sit her until the start of the second quarter.
McMahon managed not to foul again until the second half, picking up her third foul with 2:30 left in the third quarter. McMahon's second and fifth fouls were called on the offensive end of the floor.
Although her time on the court was limited, McMahon stuck to her physical style of play, driving into the paint and challenging opponents on the block.
"I feel like if (the early foul trouble) changed how aggressive I was, then I wouldn't have fouled out," McMahon said. "I just feel like I was put back in the game to play basketball and do what I do. ... I can only control what I can control, and I was dealt the cards that I was dealt, and I just handled it."
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss Coach Yo calls out officiating as Cotie McMahon fouls out
Continue reading...
The No. 5 seed Rebels (24-12) had built their lead thanks to 25-point third quarter and had pulled momentum away from the No. 4 seed Golden Gophers (24-8) at Williams Arena on March 22.
But just 41 seconds into the final quarter, Cotie McMahon picked up her fourth foul and left the floor. She came back in with 5:44 to play but just over a minute later she was called for a charge and fouled out with 4:22 on the clock and her team up by five.
Without McMahon on the floor, the Rebels’ lead dwindled, Minnesota closed the gap, and Amaya Battle hit a game-winner with 0.8 seconds left to lift the Golden Gophers over the Rebels 65-63.
“I was in the locker room just thinking about other star players on teams. I’ve just never seen them fouled out in a March Madness game," Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said. "... And from my point of view, the last call was incorrect. ... I don't think that's why we lost the game. I just know that Cotie is leading scorer, (SEC) Newcomer of the Year, all of the things, and she plays 20 minutes, and it's disappointing."
McPhee-McCuin acknowledged that the environment of 10,763 fans at Minnesota's home arena could have impacted how officials viewed the game and made their calls. She said she was choosing her words carefully to avoid "getting in any trouble," but she made a call for change.
"I do understand officials are human," she said. "... I just think officiating as a whole really needs to be looked at. ... I'm not just talking about this game. Something has to be done"
McMahon played just 21 minutes, tied for a season low, and finished as the team's second-leading scorer with 15 points. She also led Ole Miss with four assists and was one of two Rebels with a positive plus-minus at plus-14.
McMahon dealt with foul trouble throughout the game. By the 7:23 mark in the first quarter, she had picked up two fouls, and McPhee-McCuin elected to sit her until the start of the second quarter.
McMahon managed not to foul again until the second half, picking up her third foul with 2:30 left in the third quarter. McMahon's second and fifth fouls were called on the offensive end of the floor.
Although her time on the court was limited, McMahon stuck to her physical style of play, driving into the paint and challenging opponents on the block.
"I feel like if (the early foul trouble) changed how aggressive I was, then I wouldn't have fouled out," McMahon said. "I just feel like I was put back in the game to play basketball and do what I do. ... I can only control what I can control, and I was dealt the cards that I was dealt, and I just handled it."
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at [email protected] and follow her on X @tiareid65.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss Coach Yo calls out officiating as Cotie McMahon fouls out
Continue reading...
