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MINNEAPOLIS — Ole Miss women's basketball will play a brand new opponent in the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament.
For the first time, the No. 5 seed Rebels will play No. 4 seed Minnesota on March 22 (1 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Williams Arena.
Although the Rebels have never faced Minnesota, one player on the roster, Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon, has played the Golden Gophers multiple times in her NCAA career and is 4-0 against them.
McMahon leads Ole Miss with 19.7 points per game, which is fourth in the SEC.
"She is familiar and has shared things about them in general," Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said of McMahon March 21. "... She has been watching film on them ever since she realized we could potentially play them, so she (has) definitely been on the sideline giving her tidbits because she knows them really well."
McMahon said she remembers Minnesota being a "pretty disciplined team" that "can push in transition." She added that the Rebels can come out on top if they "do what we need to do."
McMahon played against Minnesota in each of her three seasons at Ohio State. In 2023 and 2024 she and Ohio State beat the Golden Gophers in Williams Arena.
In her four games against Minnesota, McMahon averaged 18.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while shooting 57.8% from the field.
She's scored 25 points against the Golden Gophers twice. Her best game against them came last season when she recorded 25 points, four rebounds, six assists and went 10-for-16 from the floor.
"I kind of feel like that's an advantage for us, where they don't have anybody that's played in the Southeastern Conference," McPhee-McCuin said. "So (they) kind of have to feel it as (they) go through it, where (McMahon) understands."
While McMahon may be able to give her team tips about Minnesota, the Golden Gophers are also able to use their knowledge of her to gameplan.
"It's nice that we kind of know her a little bit and have played against her and scouted her, so we know we're prepared for that," Minnesota guard Mara Braun said.
Braun and Minnesota coach Dawn Plitzuweit acknowledged that McMahon's game has evolved since her days in the Big Ten. They observed that she's established herself as a more of a 3-point threat while remaining a consistent attacker of the basket.
"I think from our young ladies' standpoint, you have to understand how hard she attacks and how quick that is and how physical it is when she gets downhill," Plitzuweit said. "... With a player like Cotie McMahon, you're not taking away all her shots. You're not. You're trying to make them challenged, but then you also understand she can make challenged shots at a high level."
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: How Cotie McMahon history vs Minnesota helps Ole Miss in March Madness
Continue reading...
For the first time, the No. 5 seed Rebels will play No. 4 seed Minnesota on March 22 (1 p.m. CT, ESPN) at Williams Arena.
Although the Rebels have never faced Minnesota, one player on the roster, Ohio State transfer Cotie McMahon, has played the Golden Gophers multiple times in her NCAA career and is 4-0 against them.
McMahon leads Ole Miss with 19.7 points per game, which is fourth in the SEC.
"She is familiar and has shared things about them in general," Ole Miss coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin said of McMahon March 21. "... She has been watching film on them ever since she realized we could potentially play them, so she (has) definitely been on the sideline giving her tidbits because she knows them really well."
McMahon said she remembers Minnesota being a "pretty disciplined team" that "can push in transition." She added that the Rebels can come out on top if they "do what we need to do."
McMahon played against Minnesota in each of her three seasons at Ohio State. In 2023 and 2024 she and Ohio State beat the Golden Gophers in Williams Arena.
In her four games against Minnesota, McMahon averaged 18.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while shooting 57.8% from the field.
She's scored 25 points against the Golden Gophers twice. Her best game against them came last season when she recorded 25 points, four rebounds, six assists and went 10-for-16 from the floor.
"I kind of feel like that's an advantage for us, where they don't have anybody that's played in the Southeastern Conference," McPhee-McCuin said. "So (they) kind of have to feel it as (they) go through it, where (McMahon) understands."
While McMahon may be able to give her team tips about Minnesota, the Golden Gophers are also able to use their knowledge of her to gameplan.
"It's nice that we kind of know her a little bit and have played against her and scouted her, so we know we're prepared for that," Minnesota guard Mara Braun said.
Braun and Minnesota coach Dawn Plitzuweit acknowledged that McMahon's game has evolved since her days in the Big Ten. They observed that she's established herself as a more of a 3-point threat while remaining a consistent attacker of the basket.
"I think from our young ladies' standpoint, you have to understand how hard she attacks and how quick that is and how physical it is when she gets downhill," Plitzuweit said. "... With a player like Cotie McMahon, you're not taking away all her shots. You're not. You're trying to make them challenged, but then you also understand she can make challenged shots at a high level."
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: How Cotie McMahon history vs Minnesota helps Ole Miss in March Madness
Continue reading...
