The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Hoops To Embark On Canadian Playing Tour
7/22/2011 | Women's Basketball
July 22, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss women's basketball team will get an early start to the 2011-12 season, playing games the first week of August as part of a seven-day, four-game trip to Vancouver, Canada.
Under NCAA rules, teams are allowed a foreign trip once every four years. This will be the first foreign tour for the Rebels since the 2006-07 team went to the Bahamas. The Rebels will be in Canada from August 2-8.
"We are very excited and so appreciative to our administration for giving us this opportunity," head coach Renee Ladner said. "With 10 practices, we get a head start for the upcoming season. Having such a young team comprised of mostly underclassman, it gives us a chance to practice, play and travel together. We have already seen so many great things in a short period of time."
The Rebels will fly to Vancouver on Tuesday, August 2 and will play its first game on August 3 against the University of Fraser Valley. Ole Miss will also face Canadian World University Games on August 4, the University of Fraser Valley again on August 5 and Thompson Rivers University on August 6.
All games will be played in accordance with FIBA rules. Some FIBA rules vary from those in the NCAA including: playing four, 10 minutes periods instead of two 20-minutes halves; 24 seconds on the shot clock instead of a 30-second shot clock and an eight second back court violation compared to no back court violation for women.
In addition to the games, the Rebels will have the opportunity to experience Canada and the city of Vancouver. Ole Miss will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities including visiting Stanley Park, the Vancouver aquarium, the Gas Lamp District, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Granville Island and Grouse Mountain.
The team will take 15 players including 10 returners and five newcomers. Per NCAA rules, incoming players who take and pass at least three credits during summer school are eligible to travel on the trip.
Valencia McFarland, who was named to the SEC All-Freshman team last year, is looking forward to the trip for the games and being able to bond with her teammates.
"I'm very excited about the trip to Canada, not just for the trip itself but because I feel there are great things in store for the team this upcoming season. The trip will allow us to bond and get our team chemistry together early," McFarland said. "I'm most anxious to see how the competition will be because we have had some great, intense practices and I think we'll do well against the competition if we stay focused and play together as a team. We've been putting in hard work all summer and I think it'll most definitely show off in Canada."
Teammate Courtney Marbra who will be a junior in the fall, is looking forward to putting last season behind the team and getting ready for a new season this year.
"The past can't be replaced and the present is where it starts. The future is what lies ahead and the future is Canada," Marbra said.
Fans can follow the Rebels' trip through daily player blogs, photo galleries and game recaps that will be posted on OleMissSports.com.
