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OXFORD — Ole Miss women's basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has a simple explanation for her team's sudden stumble down the stretch.
The No. 20 Rebels lost 66-58 to Texas A&M on March 1 at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
Ole Miss (21-10, 8-8 SEC) has lost four consecutive games to close the regular season since winning at home against Tennessee on Feb. 17.
The four-game losing streak has resulted in a tumble in the polls. The Rebels were ranked No. 16 but are now in danger of falling out of the polls and on the outside looking in at a top-16 host seed in the NCAA Tournament.
According to McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss became a different team vs Tennessee. That is the last game sophomore guard Sira Thienou has played. She is dealing with a bone bruise.
"It seems like we're in a decline right now," McPhee-McCuin said. "I'd like to argue different. I don't think we're in a decline, I think we have a brand-new team at a crucial time, which is the last two weeks of the season. That's really not favorable."
The injury is not season-ending, but McPhee-McCuin wouldn't commit to getting Thienou back for the SEC Tournament. She said she would hold Thienou out if she doesn't think it's in her best interest to play.
The SEC Tournament starts March 4, in Greenville, South Carolina, but the Rebels earned a bye and the No. 7 seed. Ole Miss will play March 5 at 5 p.m. CT against the winner of Texas A&M and Auburn.
Thineou's absence is felt in every aspect of the game. The sophomore from Mali was in the middle of a strong season after being named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2024-25. Thienou averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds before her injury. She also led the team in steals (44) and had 10 blocks. She had started every game for the Rebels.
"Sira starts our defense," McPhee-McCuin said. "Sira rebounds for us. She was shooting 45% from the field, almost 40% from the 3. She was our lead defender. She averaged five rebounds a game. That's what we're missing."
McPhee-McCuin said the one positive is that other young players such as sophomore guard Tianna Thompson are getting important minutes.
All four SEC games Thompson has played at least 20 minutes have been with Thienou injured. Thompson was No. 2 in scoring with 12 points for Ole Miss in the game against Texas A&M (14-11, 7-9). That's why McPhee-McCuin said she has a "glass-half-full" approach to the situation.
"We just don't have any margin of error with Sira being out," McPhee-McCuin said. "It's definitely showing its head. When I built the team she was a big part of it."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Sira Thienou injury, what Ole Miss Coach Yo said about SEC Tournament
Continue reading...
The No. 20 Rebels lost 66-58 to Texas A&M on March 1 at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
Ole Miss (21-10, 8-8 SEC) has lost four consecutive games to close the regular season since winning at home against Tennessee on Feb. 17.
The four-game losing streak has resulted in a tumble in the polls. The Rebels were ranked No. 16 but are now in danger of falling out of the polls and on the outside looking in at a top-16 host seed in the NCAA Tournament.
According to McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss became a different team vs Tennessee. That is the last game sophomore guard Sira Thienou has played. She is dealing with a bone bruise.
"It seems like we're in a decline right now," McPhee-McCuin said. "I'd like to argue different. I don't think we're in a decline, I think we have a brand-new team at a crucial time, which is the last two weeks of the season. That's really not favorable."
The injury is not season-ending, but McPhee-McCuin wouldn't commit to getting Thienou back for the SEC Tournament. She said she would hold Thienou out if she doesn't think it's in her best interest to play.
The SEC Tournament starts March 4, in Greenville, South Carolina, but the Rebels earned a bye and the No. 7 seed. Ole Miss will play March 5 at 5 p.m. CT against the winner of Texas A&M and Auburn.
Thineou's absence is felt in every aspect of the game. The sophomore from Mali was in the middle of a strong season after being named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2024-25. Thienou averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds before her injury. She also led the team in steals (44) and had 10 blocks. She had started every game for the Rebels.
"Sira starts our defense," McPhee-McCuin said. "Sira rebounds for us. She was shooting 45% from the field, almost 40% from the 3. She was our lead defender. She averaged five rebounds a game. That's what we're missing."
McPhee-McCuin said the one positive is that other young players such as sophomore guard Tianna Thompson are getting important minutes.
All four SEC games Thompson has played at least 20 minutes have been with Thienou injured. Thompson was No. 2 in scoring with 12 points for Ole Miss in the game against Texas A&M (14-11, 7-9). That's why McPhee-McCuin said she has a "glass-half-full" approach to the situation.
"We just don't have any margin of error with Sira being out," McPhee-McCuin said. "It's definitely showing its head. When I built the team she was a big part of it."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Sira Thienou injury, what Ole Miss Coach Yo said about SEC Tournament
Continue reading...
