The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lady Rebels To Open Basketball Practice Friday Night
10/12/2007 | Women's Basketball
The NCAA allows teams to begin fall practice at 7 p.m. CT. on Friday, and the Rebels will hold their first preseason session at Tad Smith Coliseum on the Ole Miss campus.
While practices are closed to the public, fans will have a chance to meet the Ole Miss coaches and players and get posters, schedule cards and autographs in The Grove at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, prior to the
Although the Ole Miss women’s basketball team may look different this season without former head coach Carol Ross and All-American Armintie Price on the sideline, new head coach Renee Ladner assures that the Lady Rebels’ competitive drive has not changed for the 2007-08 season.
“We are trying to win a national championship and that begins with playing a very tough non-conference schedule, including five NCAA Tournament teams from last year,” said Ladner. “We’re playing teams from all of the major conferences, including Big 12, Big Ten and the ACC.
“Then of course, in January we start SEC play. We want to put a good product on the floor and continue where we left off last year.”
Coming off one of their most successful seasons in a decade after reaching the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament and having an overall record of 24-11, the Lady Rebels look to fill in positions that were left by senior starters Ashley Awkward, Jada Mincy and Price.
“When you have a player the caliber of Armintie Price, you can’t replace that with one,” said Ladner. “Our whole team will have to step up at times.
“Fourteen players will have the opportunity to work really hard to fill those positions because in actuality, we only have two returning starters.”
One of those starters is sophomore guard Alliesha Easley. Easley came in to earn a starting position during her first year of collegiate play. She finished the season averaging 11 points, three rebounds and just over one steal and assist per game. These numbers helped Easley earn a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Along with her winning mentality, Easley is a fierce competitor with the ability to score the basketball from anywhere on the court.
Forward Danetra Forrest will also be returning for her senior campaign. Last season, Forrest averaged almost six points and four rebounds per outing. Ladner said that she will be looking for Forrest to step in since she played a lot of minutes in the previous season. Although sometimes undersized in the post, Forrest makes up for it with her quick feet and impressive post moves on the low block.
Ladner also said that she may turn to one of the Lady Rebels’ top players off of the bench to start this coming season in center Shawn Goff. The junior averaged close to eight points and just over one rebound per contest during her sophomore campaign. Goff should prove to be one of the Lady Rebels’ most dynamic players as she can play in the paint while featuring an effective jump shot should she choose to step out.
Senior guard Carla Bartee and sophomore guard Shantell Black will also be looked upon for valuable playing time during the season. Both saw minutes coming off the bench to average over five points and two boards and close to four points per game, respectively. Bartee provides the Lady Rebels with a rebounded force along with an ability to start the fast break. In addition, Bartee is an extremely energetic player with the ability to change the game due to the passion she plays the game with.
Black has the ability to become the floor leader from her point guard position. After gaining valuable experience last season as a freshman, Black is a tenacious defender with the ability to put points on the board on a consistent basis.
The Lady Rebels welcome two freshmen to the program with the signing of Kayla Melson from
“I think Kayla Melson will come in ready to play,” said Ladner. “Kayla Holloway is coming off an ACL injury that we are rehabbing, so we don’t know at what point she will step in.”
The most visible change this season will be that of head coach Renee Ladner, who is embarking on her first season as a head coach on the collegiate level.
Ladner, who served as an Ole Miss assistant coach under former head coach Carol Ross since 2003, brings a wealth of coaching experience into her first season at the helm of the Ole Miss women’s basketball program.
Before coming to Ole Miss, Ladner served as an assistant coach at the
“I am very greatful for having the opportunity to become the head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball team,” Ladner said. “The Ole Miss family has been outstanding. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Now, it is just a matter of getting out there and winning games.”
Another new addition to the Ole Miss team is assistant coach Marlene Stollings, who joins the staff after having a two-year stint at
“I think that her experience and her knowledge of the game will help me evolve,” said Ladner. “And since she has been an interim head coach, she knows how I feel. Overall, she will complement our staff nicely.”
Whether or not the Lady Rebels can continue their recent string of success will be tested early and often as Ole Miss plays one of the most difficult schedules in the country.
Ole Miss will shake off the rust early in November as the Lady Rebels play host to a pair of exhibition games before opening the regular season Nov. 11 by traveling to
The Lady Rebels will also test foes from the BIG 12, BIG 10 and the ACC when Ole Miss takes to the hardwood against
Following a grueling non-conference schedule, the Lady Rebels open SEC play Jan. 10 with a trip east to battle the Georgia Lady Bulldogs. Also during the course of the season, Ole Miss will have road games against
The SEC home slate consists of
After the success of last season, the Lady Rebels now know the taste of victory with the national spotlight set on them. With the team’s passion and desire to win plus its competitive drive in full force, Ole Miss women’s basketball is set to take full flight this upcoming season.
