The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Celebrate Annual Postseason Banquet
4/25/2009 | Women's Basketball
The Rebels increased their win total by five games from a season ago and reached the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament for the sixth straight season. Ole Miss went on to earn a berth in the WNIT and claimed a spot in the postseason for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Rebels reached the third round of the WNIT before falling on the road to eventual WNIT champion USF.
Academic counselor Debbie Dameron presented the first two awards of the evening, beginning with the highest grade point average award. Junior guard Bianca Thomas, who was recently named to the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll, won the award with a 3.31 GPA in exercise science. Fellow junior guard LaKendra Phillips earned the most improved grade point average award after posting a 3.00 GPA in liberal arts.
Senior Shawn Goff was recognized with the Helping Hand Award following all her efforts within the community. Goff played an instrumental role this season in spearheading the majority of the team’s community service efforts. Goff and the Rebels participated in
A member of the Ole Miss Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Goff also coordinated the monthly community service agenda for the team and helped collect donations.
Sophomore guard Kayla Melson earned the Most Improved Player Award after making tremendous strides from her first season at Ole Miss. Melson finished with 90 assists this season and ranked 14th in the conference with 2.8 helpers per game. She had five games where she dished out six assists or more and averaged 6.5 assists per game over the final four games of the season. In addition, Melson decreased her turnovers by 35.0 percent from her freshman season.
Shantell Black reeled in her first of two awards on the night as she won the Defensive Stopper Award for the second straight season. Black finished the season with a team-leading 73 steals and ranked third in the SEC with 2.2 thefts per game. Her customary pressure defense helped Ole Miss force its opponents into 602 turnovers. In addition, her perimeter defense helped Ole Miss rank first in the SEC and 27th in the nation in three-point field goal defense by limiting opponents to just 28.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Black was also the recipient of the Carol Ross Endowed Scholarship for her work in the classroom as a criminal justice major. Not only does Black excel in the classroom, but her defensive-minded abilities and attributes are a direct reflection of those of Coach Ross.
Thomas captured her second award of the night as she named the recipient of the Most Outstanding Offensive Player Award after turning a breakout season. Thomas paced the Rebels and ranked fourth in the SEC with 15.8 points per game. She led the team in scoring in 16 games and ended the year with nine games of at least 20 points, including a career-high 31 points against
She served as one of the top shooters in the conference as well and ranked sixth in the conference with a 35.3 shooting percentage from beyond the arc. Thomas tied the school record for the most three-pointers in a single game with the seven trey she hit at
The Eleanor Shaw Super Sub Award was given to Elizabeth Robertson for her role off the bench this season. Robertson tallied 5.1 points per game and was third on the team with 3.7 rebounds this season. She provided the Rebels with a long range threat as she capitalized on 31.3 percent of her three-pointers this season. Robertson was second on the team with 45 treys and produced seven games where she hit at least three 3-pointers.
Goff capped the evening by winning the Lady Rebel Award for her hard work, enthusiasm, unselfishness, devotion and commitment to her team. Her traits both on and off the court exemplify the true meaning of what is it to be a Lady Rebel. Her accomplishments this season will leave her as one of the greatest players to even wear a Rebel uniform.
She finished the season second on the team and eighth in the SEC with 13.8 points per game. The
Defensively, Goff became the Ole Miss career blocked shots lead with 208 rejections. She is the only player in school history to finish a career with over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 blocked shots.
