Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Elizabeth Cansdale made a free throw with 23.2 seconds left to lead Ole Miss to a 65-64 win over UIC.
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Lady Rebels Edge Illinois-Chicago, 65-64, To Win UIC Thanksgiving Tournament Title

Sophomore guard Elizabeth Cansdale scored 16 points to lead Ole Miss.

Dec. 1, 2002

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CHICAGO, Ill. - Sophomore guard Elizabeth Cansdale made one-of-two free throws with 23.3 seconds remaining to seal a 65-64 win for Ole Miss (3-0) over host Illinois-Chicago (3-1) to claim the UIC Thanksgiving Tournament title.

"It was good to see Elizabeth step up and hit a big shot for us," said Ole Miss head coach Ron Aldy. "She really played a great game. She gave us a tremendous lift throughout the tournament."

The Lady Rebels and the Flames were neck and neck out of the gates as neither team held more than a five point lead the whole first half. Senior guard/forward Leah Henley got things started out for Ole Miss as she scored the Lady Rebels' first eight points.

Despite some frigid shooting from the field, Henley finally got some help as Cansdale scored 11-straight points for Ole Miss. During her scoring run, Cansdale made six-of-six free throws and a two field goals, including one three-pointer. The Lady Rebels shot just 24 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes of action, but made 12-of-15 free throws to stay in the game. Ole Miss trailed UIC 30-32 at the break.

"We talked at halftime about how we needed to keep getting to the free throw line," said Aldy. "We were having some success there and we needed to keep going back."

The Lady Rebels warmed up a bit in the second half, nailing 11-of-29 shots from the floor and again made 12-of-15 free throws. Ole Miss controlled the boards, collected 47 to UIC's 39. The Lady Rebels led by five points with 2:56 remaining, but let UIC back into the game on Consuela Hall's three-pointer and a jumper by Jaysie Chambers with 32 seconds remaining. Ole Miss had the ball out of bounds at mid-court with 25 seconds left on the clock. Cansdale got fouled driving for a lay-up and made one-of-two free throws for the final score of the game.

"We were not shooting the ball well from the field, so we had to get an edge somewhere else," said Aldy. "Our rebounding and defense was great and gave us a chance to win the game."

Cansdale led Ole Miss with 16 points off the bench. She also recorded two steals. Junior guard Genice Terry also recorded double figures with 10 points, including making five-of-six free throws in the second half.

Henley finished with nine points along with freshman forward Ellen Buchanan. Sophomore center Amber Watts added eight points. Buchanan led the Lady Rebels with nine rebounds, while Watts added eight and Henley had six. Sophomore guard Carletta Brown dished out four assists.

Chambers and LeKesha Williams each scored 16 points for the Flames and Chambers grabbed 11 boards.

Watts was named the tournament MVP, while Cansdale and Buchanan were named to the All-Tournament team.

"Amber played a very solid game on Saturday," said Aldy. "She got in some foul trouble today and had to sit the first half. In the second half she made some smart decisions and made UIC focus on her which opened up some of our other players. She was our MVP. We have really seen her mature and it was evident in this tournament.

"Elizabeth and Ellen gave great effort and earned the opponents' respect. They played hard and competed every minute and really set the tone for our team. They were very deserving of earning All-Tournament honors."

The Lady Rebels will hit the road again as they travel to Little Rock, Ark., to take on Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Trojan Fieldhouse.