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8 Thursday, November li. aoio | The Red * Black Senior takes on leadership role for Lady Dogs By RYAN BLACK The Red & Black Being named to a pre season All-BEC team would be a big deal to a lot of players. Senior forward Porsha Phillips, who accomplished the feat by being named to the preseason All-SEC Second Team by the media, does not dispute the honor being something worthy of praise. She just does not want to take all the credit for the accomplishment. “It was an honor to be named," she said. “Of course, I know a lot of girls want to be one of those players, but I couldn’t do it without my team mates helping me become the player I am today.” When it comes to individual goals, Phillips once again deflects the atten tion, refusing to put anything above the team. Such humility has come to be expected of Phillips, who has admirably filled a pivotal role for the Bulldogs over the past three sea sons. “I’m more of a team player,” she said. “I don’t have anything like, ‘I want to average this many points or this number of rebounds. ’ I don’t have any individual goals. The team comes first, because without the team, I wouldn’t be able to contribute, so I have more team goals winning the SEC, going to the Final Four, things like that.” SEC EAST % © T www TheCapitalßoofn.com' rx(-P4>IT-PL MOM fIOULT iHI I (11! *I * ’*‘ **■ ** IJ UI I Every Thursday - Saturday from 10pm 11pm <i Im Ui i rli Vli ink $1 l)n Well drinks $1 Domestic beers ~ ** \ s2"' House wines g '• '. T 1 ' $2 ,J Grand Marnier & Cazadores Tequila 48 $ i 1 ‘ . • /. 247 East WashnnjUin St “I expect a lot of great things from Porsha. I think she’s going to have a really good year and go out with a bang.” Meredith Mitchell Guard But more will be expect ed of Phillips for the 2010- 11 season. To reach those lofty team goals this year, the Lady Bulldogs are counting on Phillips to pro duce. How much? “A lot,” head coach Andy Landers said. “She has to be an effective defend er on the defensive end. There are a lot of great matchups in our league, that when she’s on the defensive end. she can win that match up. “We’re obviously I LANDERS going to be looking for her to score, and I think the challenge that she needs to recognize that scoring isn’t how many times you shoot. It’s how efficient she can score and what kind of per centage she’s shooting as she goes about the busi ness of putting points up.” And after coaching her for three seasons, Landers knows just how his senior forward grew Into a role that will be so integral to the team’s success this sea son. “I don’t think it’s one thing I think it’s a com bination of things,” he said. 2009-10 RECORD . COACH 15-17 Amanda Butler Florida win be an extremely young team this season, welcoming four true freshman to join five returnees. 23-11 Melanie Balcomb All-SEC first team point guard Jence Rhoads and co. are a good bet to lead Vandy to another 20-win year. 28-8 Matthew Mitchell Fresh off the best season in program history last year, the Wildcats return their top three scorers this season. 25-9 Andy Landers Georgia counts only one senior among its ranks, but should be as big a factor as ever in the SEC. 14-15 Dawn Staley Hopes are high for a good season in Columbia this year after bringing back four of five starters. 32-3 Pat Summitt The Lady Vote are the favorites year in and year out in the SEC. This year will not be any different. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW Sara, Hr I B X \ WmMm iflflßfe Jkß ' JUT MEGHAN POTMAN | T* R*t> * Black ▲ Forward Porsha Phillips is the only senior on the roster for the Lady Bulldogs, placing her In a leadership position in her final season. The leading returning scorer and rebounder for Georgia, head coach Andy Landers expects her to be ‘one of the top three rebounders in the league.’ “She has tremendous ath leticism that allows her to be very effective defensive ly. She has the ability to score and the versatility to do that both inside and out. And she’s a terrific rebounder. By season’s end, in my view, she’ll rank as one of the top three rebounders in the league." With great power comes great responsibility. Being one of the few upperclass men on the Bulldogs' ros ter, Phillips will need to step into a leading role for the team. For Phillips who will be the only senior playing for the Lady Bulldogs this season after Jaleesa Rhoden’s career was unfor SEC RUNDOWN tunately ended due to a litany of injuries that will mean not only scoring points and grabbing rebounds, but becoming more of a vocal leader as well. “Last year I was kind of quiet, and I tried to lead more by example,” Phillips said. “So being more of a vocal leader and encourag ing my teammates and pushing others to be the best they can be [is a goal] this season, both on and off the court.” Fellow upperclassmen Meredith Mitchell who calls Phillips “one of my closest friends on the team” has already seen Phillips exhibiting her voice in SEC WEST ♦ 8 %u If practice, and knows becom ing a vocal leader Is some thing Phillips will become more and more comfort able with the farther the team goes into this year’s season. “That’s something that takes time, and I’m work ing on the same thing,” Mitchell said. “I can defi nitely see her putting forth the effort to say things here and there, sort of supplying her voice to the team in that leadership role.” Landers attests to see ing the same things Mitchell has. and his hope is that Phillips takes it to an even higher level this season. “I see a lot of what we 2008-10 RECORD COACH 12-18 Tom Colleen Arkansas was one of the worst teams in the league last yea- at 4-12 in the SEC. Things aren't looting up. 12-18 Wendell Hudson Though the Tkte had a mediocre season last year, highly-touted recruit Kaneisha Horn brings hope. 15-16 Nell Fortner Returning aB five starters, the Lady Tigers hope to make a jump into the elite of the SEC this season. 21-10 Van Chancellor Despite the loss of star guard Allison Hightower to the pros, LSU is still expected to snag an NCAA bid. 17-15 Renee Ladner Kayla Meteon is tops in scoring at 122 per game after the departure of AB-SEC honoree Bianca Thomas. 21-13 Sharon Fanning-OSs The Lady Bulldogs will have to work in 11 newcomers to their squad after a run to the Sweet 16 last year. Every Thursday is $2 signature Martinisforladies $2 Yuangiing draft for everyone Now Every M and Sat from 11pm -2am $2 wells $2 domestics $2 signature Martinis need to see from her, in terms of her practicing hard, playing hard and hav ing a great attitude toward doing those things,” he said. “What I’m trying to appeal to her now is to ratchet it up just a couple or three more notches, and she’ll be, in my view, as good as she can be.” And Mitchell leaves lit tle room to doubt what kind of season her good friend Phillips has in store. “I expect a lot of great things from Porsha,” she said. “Points-wise, rebound ing especially since we lost Angel [Robinson] I think she’s going to have a really good year and go out with a bang.”