The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Preseason Update
10/12/2011 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 12, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - With a handful of practices in the books and the first official game of the 2011-12 season less than a month away, Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Renee Ladner is pleased with the team's hard work, new look and attitude.
"We are getting better and making more progress every day," Ladner said. "I really like our energy, enthusiasm and willingness to work. The combination of those things will help us get better much quicker. We have a really good group of players that work well and hard together. We have a new group of players with a new look and a new attitude."
Ole Miss returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from last season's team including sophomore point guard Valencia McFarland, senior forward Nikki Byrd and junior forward Courtney Marbra. In addition the team welcomes five newcomers in a class that was ranked 45th nationally by ESPN HoopGurlz.
McFarland Ready For Pan Am Games
Sophomore Valencia McFarland will leave for the Pan American games on Saturday to travel to Houston, Texas, for four days of training with the team before heading to Guadalajara, Mexico for two more practices before games begin on Oct. 21.
The U.S. will face Argentina on Oct. 21 followed by a game against Puerto Rico on Oct. 22 and a game versus Mexico on Oct. 23. The two finishing teams from each preliminary round group advance to the medal semifinals, while the third and fourth place teams will play out for 5th-8th place. The semifinals will be played on Oct. 24, and the finals will take place on Oct. 25.
"It literally has been a dream of mine to play for the USA basketball team because I never thought in reality that I would ever be a part of this team," McFarland said. "I have to first give thanks to God, then my family, coaches and teammates because without them I would not be the player I am. And it is a great honor to be a part of this team."
First Game Less Than A Month Away
The Ole Miss women's basketball team will officially open the 2011-12 season on November 11 with an 11 a.m. game against North Florida.
The game will mark the team's annual School Day game where admission is free for all children.
Doty On The Call For Games This Season
Broadcaster and Ole Miss alum Graham Doty will enter his first year as the "Voice of Ole Miss Women's Basketball."
Most recently, he served as the play-by-play announcer for Mobile BayBears (AA) baseball in Raymond, Miss. In addition, Doty has play-by-play experience with Hickory Crawdads (A) baseball, Hinds Community College football, Northeast Mississippi Community College football and men's and women's basketball and Jackson Prep High School football.
Doty also has experience as a studio host for Ole Miss Athletics and a pre-game and post-game host for the Brewster Whitecaps. Doty graduated from Ole Miss in 2010 with a B.A. in broadcast journalism.
