Oct. 19, 2012

Written by: Sarah Harden, Media Relations Student Intern

OXFORD, Miss. – Senior forward Courtney Marbra will begin her final campaign when the Rebels take on Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford on Nov. 9.  This year will also be head coach Adrian Wiggins’ first season as head coach of the Ole Miss women’s basketball team. Marbra said she is excited about the coming year and playing under new leadership.

“I think coach Wiggins is an awesome coach to work with,” she said. “He’s taught me so many life lessons that I’m going to need for life after ball and he pushes us every day and makes sure we’re okay academically and athletically. It’s just good to have him around and you can tell he really cares about us.”

Marbra said the dynamic of the team has changed dramatically since Wiggins was hired in March.

“The pace has changed,” she said. “Everything is so fast and we have to communicate more. His main point during practice is that when we get tired, don’t think about self, but think about your team. It brings us closer together because we’re always picking each other up. You can just really tell the difference.”

Despite looking forward to graduating and pursuing a career in nursing, Marbra said she will miss being a Rebel.

“I’m going to miss practice because that’s the time when we pick each other up,” she said. “We have a bond and I don’t think I’m ever going to have that bond again once I graduate.”

Marbra said she hopes her teammates will remember her as someone who always worked hard and cared about her teammates more than herself.

“I’ve been in situations where I’ve felt like it’s the end of the world and someone helped me out,” she said. “It just taught me that it makes yourself feel better too, when you help someone else out. I want them to say I always helped someone when they were down.  Advice I would give the younger girls would be to stay disciplined. Never think that someone is downing you. Everything is to help you out, you might not see it now, but you will see it later. You have to be mentally tough and ready for anything and if you just keep working and stay positive, you’ll succeed”

While focusing on graduation, Marbra said she also hopes to improve athletically this season.

“My goals for basketball are to be in the top of the SEC so we can advance to the NCAA tournament,” she said. “I always wanted to see how I felt to be a part of something that big.”

Marbra said she hopes to see more Rebel fans come out and support the team and coach Wiggins in his first year.

“Ole Miss fans are missing out on the best experience,” she said. “This is just the beginning but we’re going to be very successful in the years to come. We’re going to play hard, and we’re going to play like Rebels, so check us out.”