McPhee-McCuin strengthens staff foundation amid busy off-season for Ole Miss women
Eighth-year Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin has taken care of her own.
McPhee-McCuin on Monday announced three title changes for assistants on her staff. The Rebels last season reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years. They got there just once in the program’s previous 25 years prior to McPhee-McCuin’s arrival.
Quentin Hillsman was promoted to associate head coach, while Empress Davenport and Joy Smith were elevated to associate coaches.
“Recognizing the growth, leadership, and dedication of our team is essential to the continued success of our program,” McPhee-McCuin said in an official statement. “These title promotions are a direct reflection of the evolving roles and expanded responsibilities my staff have been tasked. In addition, I’m pleased to acknowledge their meaningful contributions and I support them in their journey as professionals in our industry.”
The Rebels are coming off their 21st all-time NCAA Tournament appearance. They’ve been to 12 Sweet 16s in their history.
An off-season of activity has followed.
Hillsman, Davenport and Smith helped land the nation’s No. 2 overall transfer class, according to ESPN, including Debreasha Powe, the ‘heart and soul’ of in-state rival Mississippi State last season.
“Debreasha represents all of what’s right about the state of Mississippi,” McPhee-McCuin said. “She’s a leader, a person of great faith, and has phenomenal support from her family and people in the state.
“She’s one of Mississippi’s own who is a winner on and off the court and will fit well with the standards and values of program and the Ole Miss way. I recruited Debreasha out of high school and I am overjoyed she gets to spend her last year with us here in Oxford as a part of our Ole Miss family.”
Ole Miss returns three from its 2024-25 roster. Leading the way is rising sophomore Sira Thienou. Thienou appeared in all 33 games with 22 starts as a true freshman. She was a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week and tallied 79 steals, the second-most ever by an Ole Miss freshman.
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Two-time All-American Cotie McMahon is a transfer addition from Ohio State.
The Rebels also brought in Tianna Thompson (Georgia Tech), Latasha Lattimore (Virginia), Denim DeShields (Mississippi State), Desrae Kyles (Central Michigan) and Kaitlin Peterson (UCF).
Peterson was the last arrival and the Knights’ top scorer last season. She averaged 21.4 points, the second-most in a single season in school history. She also chipped in 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists and shot 39.8 percent from the floor.
McMahon scored over 16 points and grabbed some five rebounds per game with the Buckeyes. Ole Miss lost four of its Top 5 scorers.
Ole Miss signed 4-star 2025 recruit Lauren Jacobs in the fall. Jacobs was the 2025 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and ranked by ESPN as the nation’s No. 83 overall player. Jacobs averaged 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.4 assists as a senior and finished with a career 2,164 points.
“Lauren is a competitor and it makes her perfect for our conference,” McPhee-McCuin previously said of Jacobs. “She can score at all three levels. She’s a fierce defender and a leader. She will seamlessly transition into our system, with our program and with the Oxford community.”
