Why Sira Thienou's return in Ole Miss March Madness win impressed Coach Yo so much
Ole Miss star Sira Thienou returned from injury in the Rebels' first-round 81-66 NCAA Tournament win over Gonzaga.
MINNEAPOLIS — Upon hearing Sira Thienou ’s name at the podium, Ole Miss women’s basketball coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin broke out into a smile. As she listened to a reporter read some of Thienou’s stats, McPhee-McCuin lifted her chin and raised her arms in elation. “Oh, my gosh, 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals, four blocks after a month off?
… I'm a happy camper,” she said. The Rebels’ starting sophomore guard hadn’t played since Feb. 17 when she suffered a bone bruise.
She returned for Ole Miss (24-11) in its 81-66 first-round Women's NCAA Tournament win over Gonzaga (24-10) at Williams Arena. “It was good,” Thienou said of her return. “I was excited and it felt really good to be back on the court with my teammates and having fun and do what I love.
” After missing the last four games of the regular season and the Rebels’ three SEC Tournament games, Thienou re-entered the Rebels lineup without missing a beat, though sporting a brace on her left knee. She credited her coaches and teammates for easing her transition back to the court after the time off. “The team behind us, the coach, my teammates, they were wishing me (well) the time that I was out, just trying to make sure that I'm good,” Thienou said.