The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebels Explode Out Of The Gates
10/16/2004 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's basketball team kicked off the 2004-05 season on Saturday with their first official practice. Lady Rebel head coach Carol Ross was impressed with the teams overall effort, most importantly the speed she saw on the court.
"We had a great spirit today," said Ross, who begins her second season at the helm of the program. "The effort was outstanding. I was very pleased with the speed I saw in the players. They were really getting up and down the court with some quickness and that was encouraging so early in the year."
The Lady Rebels return three starters, including 2004 SEC Freshman of the Year Armintie Price, from last season's NCAA Tournament team. In addition to Price, seniors Carletta Brown and Amber Watts return as starters, along with eight overall letterwinners.
Junior college transfer LaTanya Jones and freshmen Dee Forrest, Lindsay Roy and Tasi Worsham went through their first Ole Miss practice on Saturday, along with redshirt-freshman Jada Mincy, who sat out the 2003-04 season with a torn ACL.
"I thought our newcomers did a nice job of picking things up," said Ross, who was named 2004 SEC Co-Coach of the Year by The Associated Press. "They did a very nice job of adjusting to the tempo of practice."
Sophomore Carla Bartee also joined the Lady Rebels in practice on Saturday. Bartee, who transferred to Ole Miss from Western Kentucky during the summer, is eligible to practice with the Lady Rebels this season, but is unable to compete in games. Senior Amber Terrell is ineligible for game-action during the first semester due to academic reasons.
Ole Miss will host EA Sports in their lone exhibition contest of the season on Saturday, Nov. 6, in Tad Smith Coliseum. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. The Lady Rebels will open the regular season on the road, as they will travel to Birmingham on Sunday, Nov. 21, to take on UAB. Game time for the UAB contest is 2 p.m., at Bartow Arena. Ole Miss' home-opener will be on Wednesday, Nov. 24, when they play host to Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m., also in Tad Smith Coliseum.
