The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
9-3
Vermont
4-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UM | 32 | 49 | 81 |
| VERMONT | 24 | 26 | 50 |
Lady Rebels Pound Vermont To Claim Surf-N-Slam Title
12/31/2004 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2004
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -
Senior guard Elizabeth Cansdale nailed a single-game tournament record six three-point baskets on her way to 20 points in leading Ole Miss to a 81-50 in over Vermont in the finals of the Surf-N-Slam Tournament on Thursday. The Lady Rebels close out 2004 with a 9-3 record, while Vermont falls to 4-5 on the season.
"I was really pleased with our offensive execution," said Ole Miss head coach Carol Ross. "Vermont was not as athletic as we were, but they play a great fundamental game. We really had them out of sync with our defensive pressure and our offensive did a nice job of moving the ball around and working for a good shot."
The Catamounts took their first of two leads with a bucket by Katie McNamara to open the game. Ole Miss then went on a 6-0 run to lead 6-2 before letting Vermont sink some baskets and take their final lead of the game at 9-7 with 15:07 remaining in the first period.
After applying some defensive pressure, the Lady Rebels were able to force an up tempo game and some Vermont turnovers, going on an 12-0 run over the next seven minutes. Vermont did not go away easily as the Catamounts pulled within six points with just over two minutes remaining in the first period. Junior Ellen Buchanan hit a follow shot with a second left on the clock to give Ole Miss a 32-24 lead at the break.
Ole Miss started the second half with two quick baskets and then let the Catamounts cut the lead to six for the last time at the 17:50 mark in the second period. Ole Miss then reeled of a 15-2 run to take control of the game.
Cansdale led all scorers in the game with 20 points off of 6-of-16 shot from the field, with all six of her baskets coming from beyond the arc. Her six three-point baskets set a single-game record for the Surf-N-Slam, while her eight tournament three-point baskets tied the tournament record.
Freshman forward Dee Forrest posted her first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while sophomore guard-forward Armintie Price finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, five steals and four assists. Price earned the MVP trophy for the tournament and a spot on the All-Tournament team.
Senior center Amber Terrell scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds in her first career start. Terrell started in place of senior center Amber Watts who was back in Mississippi tending to a death in the family.
Ole Miss made 29-of-68 shots from the field, good for 41.2 percent. The Lady Rebels hit 8-of-23 from beyond the arc and 17-of 23 from the charity stripe. Ole Miss won the rebounding battle 48-33 and forced 19 turnovers, resulting in 28 points. Vermont was led by All-Tournament team members Lani Boardman and McNamara. Boardman finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds, while McNamara had 10 points and eight rebounds.
Senior Carletta Brown earned All-Tournament honors along with Price. Brown finished the game with just two points and three assists, but led Ole Miss with 19 points in their first round win against Marquette.
Ole Miss will travel back to Oxford to ring in the new year. They will return to the court on Jan. 3, when they play host to Memphis. Game time is slated for 7 p.m., in Tad Smith Coliseum. The game, which will be played on Boss' Day, will have a Ross is Boss theme, with the first 200 fans attending receiving a free Ross is Boss t-shirt.
