Carol Ross Named SEC Coach of the Year by Media
Thursday, March 8, 2001 | Women's Basketball
University of Florida head coach Carol Ross was named the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year by the Associated Press today. Additionally, junior Brandi McCain (Silsbee, TX) was selected to the five-player First Team.
"Postseason honors are a reflection of the team's performance throughout the season," Ross said. "Winning this award is really a team award. I couldn't be more proud of what our team has accomplished, especially with the adversity we have faced. We have been on a mission to return to the NCAA Tournament all season long. We feel like we have put ourselves in a solid position to be successful. This group does whatever it takes to win."
Ross, who is in her 11th season at the helm of the Florida program, was the named the 1994 SEC Coach of the Year by her peers and was honored as the 1997 WBCA District Coach of the Year. This season Ross directed the 15th-ranked Lady Gators to a 23-5 overall record, including an 11-3 mark in SEC play. The team finished tied for second place in the league standings, matching the highest-finish in program history.
McCain leads Florida in scoring, contributing 19.8 points per game, while recording 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per outing. She shattered UF's season record for three-point field goals of 73, tallying 91 this year. McCain was named All-SEC First Team by the league's coaches last week.
"Brandi is truly one of those players who make everyone else on the court better," Ross said of her 5-foot-3 guard. "She has battled adversity herself, fighting through injuries the last two years, but is resiliant and continues to give her best effort every time she steps onto the court."
Last year McCain missed 19 games because of injuries and Florida tallied a 9-10 record in those games. The Lady Gators were 12-3 when she took the court.
Fellow Gators Tombi Bell (Miami, FL) and Naomi Mobley (Jacksonville, FL) both were named Honorable Mention All-SEC.
The All-Southeastern women's basketball team as selected by The Associated Press, with name, school, height, class and position:
First Team
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt, 6-6, So., C
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State, 6-2, So., F
Marie Ferdinand, LSU, 5-9, Sr., G
Kelly Miller, Georgia, 5-10, Sr., G
Brandi McCain, Florida, 5-3, Jr., G
Second Team
Gwen Jackson, Tennessee, 6-2, So., F
Zuzi Klimesova, Vanderbilt, 6-2, Jr., F
Coco Miller, Georgia, 5-10, Jr., G
Michelle Snow, Tennessee, 6-5, Jr., C
Kara Lawson, Tennessee, 5-9, Fr., F
Third Team
Deanna Nolan, Georgia, 6-0, Sr., G-F
Wendi Willits, Arkansas, 5-8, Sr., G
Tamika Catchings, Tennessee, 6-1, Sr., F
Tawana McDonald, Georgia, 6-4, Jr., F-C
Semeka Randall, Tennessee, 5-10, Sr., G
Honorable Mention
Tombi Bell, Florida, 5-5, Sr. G
Kristen Clement, Tennessee, 5-11, Sr. G
LaTonya McDole, Kentucky, 6-1, Jr., F
Naomi Mobley, Florida, 6-2, Jr., F
Becky Myatt, Mississippi, 5-8, Sr., G
Lori Nero, Auburn, 6-2, Jr., C
Ashley Robinson, Tennessee, 6-5, Fr., C
Player of the Year - Kelly Miller, Georgia
Coach of the Year - Carol Ross, Florida
Newcomer of the Year - Christi Thomas, Georgia
"Postseason honors are a reflection of the team's performance throughout the season," Ross said. "Winning this award is really a team award. I couldn't be more proud of what our team has accomplished, especially with the adversity we have faced. We have been on a mission to return to the NCAA Tournament all season long. We feel like we have put ourselves in a solid position to be successful. This group does whatever it takes to win."
Ross, who is in her 11th season at the helm of the Florida program, was the named the 1994 SEC Coach of the Year by her peers and was honored as the 1997 WBCA District Coach of the Year. This season Ross directed the 15th-ranked Lady Gators to a 23-5 overall record, including an 11-3 mark in SEC play. The team finished tied for second place in the league standings, matching the highest-finish in program history.
McCain leads Florida in scoring, contributing 19.8 points per game, while recording 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals per outing. She shattered UF's season record for three-point field goals of 73, tallying 91 this year. McCain was named All-SEC First Team by the league's coaches last week.
"Brandi is truly one of those players who make everyone else on the court better," Ross said of her 5-foot-3 guard. "She has battled adversity herself, fighting through injuries the last two years, but is resiliant and continues to give her best effort every time she steps onto the court."
Last year McCain missed 19 games because of injuries and Florida tallied a 9-10 record in those games. The Lady Gators were 12-3 when she took the court.
Fellow Gators Tombi Bell (Miami, FL) and Naomi Mobley (Jacksonville, FL) both were named Honorable Mention All-SEC.
The All-Southeastern women's basketball team as selected by The Associated Press, with name, school, height, class and position:
First Team
Chantelle Anderson, Vanderbilt, 6-6, So., C
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State, 6-2, So., F
Marie Ferdinand, LSU, 5-9, Sr., G
Kelly Miller, Georgia, 5-10, Sr., G
Brandi McCain, Florida, 5-3, Jr., G
Second Team
Gwen Jackson, Tennessee, 6-2, So., F
Zuzi Klimesova, Vanderbilt, 6-2, Jr., F
Coco Miller, Georgia, 5-10, Jr., G
Michelle Snow, Tennessee, 6-5, Jr., C
Kara Lawson, Tennessee, 5-9, Fr., F
Third Team
Deanna Nolan, Georgia, 6-0, Sr., G-F
Wendi Willits, Arkansas, 5-8, Sr., G
Tamika Catchings, Tennessee, 6-1, Sr., F
Tawana McDonald, Georgia, 6-4, Jr., F-C
Semeka Randall, Tennessee, 5-10, Sr., G
Honorable Mention
Tombi Bell, Florida, 5-5, Sr. G
Kristen Clement, Tennessee, 5-11, Sr. G
LaTonya McDole, Kentucky, 6-1, Jr., F
Naomi Mobley, Florida, 6-2, Jr., F
Becky Myatt, Mississippi, 5-8, Sr., G
Lori Nero, Auburn, 6-2, Jr., C
Ashley Robinson, Tennessee, 6-5, Fr., C
Player of the Year - Kelly Miller, Georgia
Coach of the Year - Carol Ross, Florida
Newcomer of the Year - Christi Thomas, Georgia
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