The University of Mississippi Athletics
Melson Named Most Outstanding Rebel At Annual Award Banquet
5/17/2011 | Women's Basketball
May 17, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - Second Team All-SEC honoree Kayla Melson was named Most Outstanding Rebel at the women's basketball annual awards banquet Friday night at the BPF.
Melson led the team and was third in the conference in scoring last season with 15.1 points per game in addition to being named a finalist for the Cellular South Gillom Trophy. She led the team, and SEC, in minutes per game (38.0), field goal percentage (43.7) and free throws (90) and was also an AP All-SEC Second Team honoree.
Freshman Valencia McFarland, who was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and was also named to the All-Tournament team at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahnie Showdown and was the MVP at Inn at Ole Miss Classic, earned three awards on the night. She was awarded with the Playmaker Award, the Carol Ross Endowment Scholarship and the Academic Achievement Award for having the third-highest GPA on the team (3.54 cumulative GPA). She led the team in minutes (1,037), field goals (135), free throw percentage (.720), assists (123), steals (42) and points (371). McFarland recorded 20 double-digit scoring games including 11 of the final 12 games of the year.
Also earning the Academic Achievement Award were sophomores Kelsey Nutt (4.0 cumulative GPA) and Maggie McFerrin (3.73 cumulative GPA). Overall, the team posted a 3.4 GPA which is the highest GPA under head coach Renee Ladner.
Senior Tori Slusher was honored with the Rebel Iron Award for her dedication in the weight room while junior Nikki Byrd was awarded with the Eleanor Shaw Award which embodies spirit of the late Eleanor Shaw.
Sophomore Courtney Marbra was given the Lady Rebel Award while freshman Pa'Sonna Hope, who averaged a team-leading 6.6 rebounds per game, was awarded the Most Outstanding Rebounder Award.
