The University of Mississippi Athletics
McFarland Named C Spire Wireless Gillom Trophy Finalist
2/27/2012 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 27, 2012
JACKSON, Miss. - Ole Miss sophomore point guard Valencia McFarland has been named one of the three finalists for the 2012 C Spire Wireless Gillom Trophy the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum announced Monday night.
The other finalists are senior Diamber Johnson from Mississippi State and senior Veronica Walker from Delta State. Finalists are selected by 51-statewide media voters.
The award is presented annually to the top female collegiate basketball player in Mississippi and is named after former Ole Miss great Peggie Gillom. Gillom is Ole Miss' leading scorer and rebounder and served as an associate coach at Ole Miss for seven years. In addition, Gillom has spent time as an Olympic and WNBA coach.
This season, McFarland leads the team and is fifth in the SEC in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. She leads the league in minutes played (37.1 mpg), is third in assists (4.9 apg) and sixth in steals (2.1 spg). She has recorded six 20-point games this season including career-high 25 points in a win over Alabama. A team captain this year, McFarland has scored in double figures in 23 of the team's 29 games.
The winner will be announced at an 11:30 a.m. luncheon on Monday, March 5 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson. Tickets are $35 per person and include a buffet-style lunch. Native Mississippian and former longtime national college basketball and football play-by-play announcer Ron Franklin will serve as master of ceremonies.
All proceeds benefit the private, non-profit Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. For ticket information, contact the Museum at 1-800-280-FAME (3263).
