Ole Miss Senior Shakira Austin Earns Gillom Trophy

“Grand Strategy is the art of looking beyond the present battle and calculating ahead. It requires that you focus on your ultimate goal and plot to reach it.” Robert Greene, 33 Strategies of War

OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss women’s basketball team may not have won the battle at the SEC Tournament, but the Rebels are still fully engaged for the war that will come in the form of the NCAA tournament.

One huge, consistent presence making that March Madness path a reality is senior Shakira Austin who, on Monday, was named the winner of the prestigious Gillom Trophy that honors the most outstanding women’s basketball player in the state of Mississippi. 

Bringing home a little extra hardware today! Congrats ⁦@Theylove_kira⁩ on winning the Gillom Trophy. ⁦@OleMissWBB⁩ ⁦@YolettMcCuin⁩ 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/hjJohRdGbT

— Keith Carter (@KeithCarterOM) March 7, 2022

Since her arrival in Oxford, the Fredericksburg, Va. native has been a force on the court, instrumental in helping turn this team around.

While head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels wait to find out just where they will begin the postseason, the Rebels can celebrate Shakira’s latest award. 

The 6-foot-5 powerhouse was honored by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Pearl River Resort with the trophy that has been handed out since 2008 in honor of Ole Miss All-American Peggie Gillom-Granderson.

Not only is Shakira making waves in the ‘Sip, but she continues to garner recognition as one of the top players in the nation.

She is one of just seven active players in Division I hoops who has achieved 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.

It comes as no surprise that she left Music City this past weekend as a member of the SEC All-Tournament Team. This season she was named First-Team All SEC, once again, and was named a Top 10 finalist for the Lisa Leslie Award for the best center in the nation.

Twice as nice 🤩

For the second year in a row, Shakira Austin is First-Team All-SEC! pic.twitter.com/zfIxRv6GHw

— Ole Miss Women's BB (@OleMissWBB) March 1, 2022

Shakira notched a season-high 27 points in the Rebels’ quarterfinal victory against Florida last Friday and broke a program record with the most blocked shots (6) in a tourney game. She stands atop the Rebels’ leader board, averaging 15.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.

With so much to play for, Shakira and her teammates have their eyes firmly focused on winning the next war on the court.

Next Up:

The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Selection Show will air Sunday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPN. 

Hotty Toddy, Shakira!

(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss; Graphic Credit: Lee Ann Herring, Rebel Walk)