Mississippi

Mississippi State women’s basketball has what Ole Miss, Coach Yo want. But it’s tough to obtain

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Mississippi State women’s basketball has what Ole Miss, Coach Yo want. But it’s tough to obtain

STARKVILLE — Last month, fresh off losing to rival Mississippi State, Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin didn’t have much to say about the Humphrey Coliseum crowd of more than 7,000 fans.

With the seats matching the maroon shirts of most fans, McPhee-McCuin said, she didn’t even realize how large the gathering was. However, less than two weeks later after her team’s home victory against Florida in front of 2,450 fans, it was apparent that the crowd in Starkville did actually stick out to the Rebels’ coach.

She made that clear while voicing her displeasure for women’s basketball struggling to draw crowds like men’s teams in Oxford do.

“Why can’t we be an everything school?” McPhee-McCuin said. “Because that’s a destination spot. It’s happening up the street. We went to that game and there was 7,000 people in there. You get what I’m saying? I don’t even want to call them their names. But it happened.”

McPhee-McCuin made clear the struggle women’s teams face when building programs. Recent regular season success for Ole Miss’ men’s basketball has drawn impressive crowds, but fresh off a Sweet 16 trip, the women’s team is averaging fewer than 4,000 fans per game.

Yet in the same state, Mississippi State ranks fourth among SEC teams with an average attendance of 5,457 and had a recent sellout against LSU.

As the programs meet for the return game in Oxford on Sunday (3 p.m., SEC Network+), it’s a reminder of how impressive MSU’s rise in women’s basketball is while its rival looks to catch up.

How Mississippi State became a prominent women’s basketball brand

The country woke up to the tune of a cowbell on March 27, 2017, and Mississippi State women’s basketball was the reason why.

It was a normal morning for Robin Roberts in most regards as she took her spot hosting Good Morning America on ABC. However, the Bulldogs had just given her an excuse to ring a cowbell on one of television’s most popular shows.

Sporting an assortment of maroon and white, Roberts reminded the nation of what had happened the night before. With a win against Baylor, Mississippi State had just clinched its first trip to the Final Four.

For Roberts, who grew up and played basketball in Pass Christian, Mississippi, the cowbell was a chance to endorse what the Bulldogs just accomplished. For former MSU coach Vic Schaefer, it was the start of a week that changed women’s basketball in Starkville – and across the state – forever.

Roberts became an iconic part of MSU’s success, highlighted by a postgame speech she gave in Mississippi State’s locker room after an upset of UConn in the 2017 Final Four.

“Thank you for elevating women’s basketball the way you have,” Roberts told the team.

But she also played a big role in helping grow the game, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Schaefer.

“That’s free advertisement,” Schaefer told the Clarion Ledger this week. “You get a 30-second blip on an ad for ‘Good Morning America,’ it’s $4 million from what I’ve been told. We got about $12 million worth of advertisement three straight days that didn’t cost us a dime.”

Reaching the level of success required to get that national hype wasn’t easy, though.

Sharon Fanning-Otis spent 17 seasons as MSU coach, guiding the program to its first six NCAA Tournament appearances. However, room remained for Mississippi State to take the next step.

Schaefer inherited a team ahead of the 2012-13 season that was fresh off back-to-back losing seasons. He finished 13-17 in his first season and didn’t make the NCAA Tournament the following season despite a 22-14 record. Across his final six seasons, Mississippi State became a fixture in March Madness and the national polls.

“There’s an investment level that is required,” Schaefer said. “Once you get a return on your investment, it’s real easy to support it.”

Style of play was a big reason Schaefer’s teams appealed to Starkville.

Success for Mississippi State, Ole Miss starts in Mississippi high school basketball

In-state products such as Victoria Vivians (Carthage) helped mold the best years of Schaefer’s tenure, but even since his departure, Mississippi has generated top players.

Debreasha Powe is a sophomore at Mississippi State out of Meridian High School in Meridian. Madison Booker, a freshman star for Schaefer at Texas, is a product of Ridgeland. In her first season, Powe started 32 games for an NCAA Tournament team. This season, Booker is averaging 15.5 points per game and has started all 24 games she has appeared in.

“I think in both cases, those kids played for really good high school coaches,” Schaefer said. “They had a lot of success in high school. They had to be the player on their high school team, so night in and night out they had to show up and be accountable. I think that’s what gets you ready for college more than anything.”

Added to the list is Ole Miss forward Snudda Collins out of Brookhaven. The state is producing talent at an impressive pace, though it doesn’t guarantee the top players are coming to your program.

“I think the trend is becoming that elite players from their state are staying home,” McPhee-McCuin said. “What makes it difficult in Mississippi is you have two Power Five programs in the same conference … That makes it incredibly challenging because when you do get one that has a lot of talent, now you’re fighting in state against them.”

BREAKING IT DOWN: Explaining Ole Miss women’s basketball’s $8.4 million deficit in 2023 fiscal year

With success, though, comes the ability to recruit at a bigger scale. Collins and Powe are the lone in-state products across the two rival rosters this season. However, both programs have top players from other spots, ranging from MSU guard Mjracle Sheppard from Washington to Ole Miss guard Marija Avlijas from Serbia.

There are layers to creating the success women’s basketball has in Mississippi. It’s a cycle where fans, programs and schools work hand-in-hand to keep each other moving forward.

When the highs are reached and programs get to the levels Mississippi State and Ole Miss have gotten to, the benefits resonate throughout the state.

“When you have two programs on the national stage that are able to give exposure to women’s sports, compete at the highest level and be two brands that are recognized on the women’s side, it’s not only great for our universities, it’s great for our schools,” MSU coach Sam Purcell said.

Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, @skrajisnik3.

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East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team – Meridian Star

Published

7 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

East Mississippi running back Gavin Griffin selected to 2025 NJCAA All-America First Team

Published 12:08 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2025

East Mississippi Community College running back Gavin Griffin has added to his list of 2025 season accomplishments by being named to this year’s NJCAA Division I Football All-America First Team. The National Junior College Athletic Association announced the organization’s first-team, second-team and honorable-mention football selections on Dec. 20.

As an NJCAA All-Region 23 honoree as well as being the MACCC North Division’s Offensive Player of the Year recipient this season, Griffin’s most recent honor gives East Mississippi’s football program a total of 36 NJCAA All-America selections during the past 18 seasons under the guidance of NJCAA Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame head coach Buddy Stephens. Dating back to the 2008 season, the EMCC Lions have had at least one NJCAA All-American in football during 13 of the past 18 years.

In becoming EMCC’s 15th first-team NJCAA All-American dating back to 2008, Griffin helped lead the Lions to a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 MACCC North Division mark while earning the program’s 12th division crown and 15th conference playoff appearance during the Stephens coaching era.

A Troy University signee, Griffin was twice selected as the NJCAA and MACCC Offensive Player of the Week this season while topping the NJCAA Division I statistical leaders with 22 rushing touchdowns and ranking second nationally with 1,168 rushing yards. With six 100-yard rushing outings on the year, Griffin’s top performances on the ground included a career-high 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 22 attempts during EMCC’s 49-27 home win over Pearl River. He also had 189 rushing yards and three scores in 23 carries during the Lions’ 34-28 road victory at Northwest Mississippi.

With at least one rushing touchdown in all 10 games this past season, Griffin had seven contests with multiple scoring runs, including an additional four-touchdown effort in EMCC’s 50-39 home win over Holmes. During the Stephens coaching era at EMCC, Griffin’s 134 total points scored and 22 touchdown runs this season rank second behind Tyrell Price’s NJCAA-leading 24 rushing touchdowns and 150 points scored during the Lions’ 2017 national championship season.

On EMCC’s single-season statistical leaders list during the Stephens era, Griffin’s 1,168 rushing yards in 10 games played rank third behind 2025 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rod Moore (1,303 in 2011) and Lakenderic Thomas (1,334 in 2013), who both had the advantage of playing two additional games during EMCC’s respective national championship seasons. Griffin’s 207 rushing attempts this season are the most by an EMCC player during the Stephens era, breaking the mark of 200 carries previously held by second-team NJCAA All-American Deon McIntosh during the Lions’ 2018 national championship season.

For his two EMCC seasons, Griffin’s 1,722 career rushing yards rank third behind Thomas (1,724) and Moore (2,211), while his 30 career rushing touchdowns tie Price for the most during the Stephens era. Along with the 66 points that Griffin scored (8 rush TDs and 3 TD catches) as an EMCC freshman in 2024, the 2023 MHSAA Class 1A Mr. Football out of Velma Jackson High School became just the second EMCC player of the Stephens era to reach 200 career points scored.

EMCC’s 35 NJCAA All-America players under Stephens’ leadership are divided among 18 offensive performers, 15 defensive honorees and two special teams players. Leading the way positionally for EMCC dating back to 2008, the Lions have had 10 All-America quarterback selections, including NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year recipients Ty Keyes (2023) and Bo Wallace (2011) as well as two-time All-America signal-caller Randall Mackey (2008 & 2009). On the defensive side of the football during the Stephens coaching era, the Lions have featured eight All-America defensive linemen, headlined by 12-year NFL veteran Denico Autry (2011) of the Houston Texans and recently retired 11-year NFL standout Za’Darius Smith (2012).

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Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

Published

19 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Mississippi Lottery Mississippi Match 5, Cash 3 results for Dec. 22, 2025

The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 22, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

20-21-22-24-25

Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 3 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 1-8-7, FB: 3

Evening: 9-1-4, FB: 1

Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 4 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 0-6-1-7, FB: 3

Evening: 1-2-4-0, FB: 1

Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Midday: 13

Evening: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Story continues below gallery.

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.

Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:

Mississippi Lottery Corporation

P.O. Box 321462

Flowood, MS

39232

If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.

Mississippi Lottery Headquarters

1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100

Flowood, MS

39232

Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.

When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?

Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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No snow in a Mississippi Christmas – Meridian Star

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

No snow in a Mississippi Christmas

Published 11:11 am Monday, December 22, 2025

From the looks of the weather forecast, it appears I am going to be disappointed again this year: no White Christmas, no one-horse open sleigh ride, and no chestnuts roasting on an open fire.

Our songs and traditions this time of year sure paint a pretty picture! Unfortunately, almost every Christmas season I’ve ever experienced in Mississippi has found me wearing shorts on Christmas Day. I think the forecast calls for a high of 74 degrees on Christmas Eve, 73 on Christmas Day, and 75 the day after.

Even though the weather disappoints me, I love my Christmas traditions. As silly as it sounds for a grown man, I love Christmas socks and wear them throughout the year. I grew up with a mom who made fresh eggnog. I haven’t had any homemade in years, but I purchase some every season.

In true Clark Griswold fashion, no Christmas would be complete without proper outdoor Christmas illumination. To make it even funnier, you can’t see my lights unless you come up our very rural driveway. Yes, the lights are just for me.

Speaking of Clark and company, my sweet indulgent wife always watches Christmas Vacation at least once each season with me. And then there are my other favorite Christmas shows and movies: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charlie Brown’s Christmas, the Grinch, and Home Alone. (Also, I vote that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.)

And because my wife indulges me, I’ve been known to indulge her by sleeping through, er, I mean watching a Hallmark Christmas movie or two. She’s just blessed like that. What a guy I am!

But moving on from praising myself, when my oldest son got married, his wife brought us a new Christmas tradition: the Christmas Pickle ornament. You hide it on the tree, and whoever finds it gets to open the first present. I’m not sure that one has much of a future. Nevertheless, I unabashedly love Christmas.

Here’s my Christmas rule: “If you quit believing in Santa Claus, you get clothes for Christmas.” Not this guy. I’m all in it for the toys. (You may be familiar with the adage that the only difference between a man and a boy is the price of his toys—I resemble that remark.)

And in case you are wondering what to get me, my sizes are .45, 9mm, .233, .22, .380, and 12 gauge. Smile! It’s all in good fun.

In the immortal words of Clark Griswold, “Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together.”

And we are. May your blessings be great, and your opportunities and abilities to bless others be even greater.

Merry Christmas!

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!”

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