The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Team Shines With Ball And Books
5/20/2009 | Women's Basketball
By Jay D’Abramo
Assistant Athletics Media Relations Director
It’s easy to remember the highlight reel plays, the classic rivalry games, the thrilling upsets and the conference championships. It’s also easy to forget that those same student-athletes that have brought us all so much joy and jubilation throughout the years are striving towards a bigger accomplishment than anything on the court a degree from an accredited university.
It’s no secret that trying to balance athletics with academics can be one of the most challenging obstacles a student-athlete will ever encounter. College life can be very demanding for the thousands of students on campus only for an education, so imagine how rigorous the schedule of a student-athlete can be when trying to accommodate time for both.
Both Ole Miss and the Southeastern Conference do an outstanding job of recognizing those student-athletes who excel both on the court and in the classroom, and this season the Ole Miss women’s basketball team was one of the most successful in both areas.
Ole Miss featured four players who earned a spot on the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for their efforts in the classroom. Rebels Shawn Goff, Elizabeth Robertson, Kayla Melson and Bianca Thomas were each selected to the team for posting a grade point average of 3.0 or better for either the preceding academic year (two semesters or three quarters) or having a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at Ole Miss.
“Ever since I arrived at Ole Miss, I have used the approach of being a student first and an athlete second,” Thomas said. “Basketball may not always be there for me, and I just want to make sure that when my playing days are done I will have earned my degree. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I do know that I will have several options once I do earn my degree.”
The Rebels were tied for third with
Not only was Ole Miss one of the most represented in the SEC, but the Rebels also landed seven of its 13 players on one of three Ole Miss honor rolls.
Goff earned a spot on the Chancellor’s Honor Roll after finishing the semester with a perfect 4.00 grade point average. Goff, who finished her career as the only player in school history to have over 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 blocked shots, graduated in May with a degree in health and exercise science.
“I think finishing what you started is always an accomplishment that you can be proud of,” Goff said. “Being a student-athlete at Ole Miss taught me about time management, being responsible and learning how to handle and balance my life even when the situations were hectic.
“In the four years that I spent at Ole Miss, I have grown and matured into a young lady and met some people that have become great friends. I am proud to say I am an Ole Miss alum and I believe that I have left a positive image of my time here.”
Melson was named to the Ole Miss Dean’s Honor Roll after meeting the requirements of posting a grade point average of 3.50 or better.
The remaining five Rebels, Shantell Black, Whitney H.meth, LaKendra Phillips, Robertson and Thomas, were all selected to the UMAA Honor Roll for earning a grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
“I am extremely proud of the academic achievements these seven young women earned this year,” Ole Miss head coach Renee Ladner said. “One of the main aspects we stress is academics and this group really answered the bell this year.”
On the hardwood, the Rebels finished the season 18-15 and earned a berth in the postseason for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Ole Miss reached at least the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament for the sixth consecutive season and was within three points of top-seeded
During the regular season, Ole Miss defeated four NCAA Tournament teams and came within seconds of knocking off 13th-ranked
Ole Miss returns four starters next year and expectations will once again be high. Thomas is back for her senior season after averaging 15.3 points per game last year en route to an All-SEC first team selection. She posted nine games in which she scored at least 20 points, and she also set the school record for three-pointers in a season with 73.
The Rebels will also rely heavily on the production of point guard Shantell Black, who finished second in the SEC last year with over five helpers per game. She featured three games in which she tallied 10 or more assists and had two double-doubles on the season.
With its core nucleus returning for next season, the Rebels should once again be one of the top teams on the hardwood and in the classroom.
