University of Tennessee Athletics
Russell Named To SEC Community Service Team
February 21, 2018 | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Redshirt senior Mercedes Russell has been named to the SEC Women's Basketball Community Service Team, the league office announced on Wednesday.
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This marks the 20th year for the SEC Community Service Team for women's basketball as well as for men's basketball. All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men's and women's sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.
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Russell, a 6-foot-6 center from Springfield, Ore., has started all 27 games for the Lady Vols this season, averaging 15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest. She is shooting 60.7 percent from the field, which ranks as the fifth-best season rate in school history and stands No. 13 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC in 2017-18.
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On watch lists for the Lisa Leslie Award as well as the Naismith and Wade Trophies, Russell has recorded 13 double-doubles this year, the second most by a senior in UT annals. She has tallied 43 in her career to rank third all-time among Lady Vols. Earlier this season, she became only the sixth Tennessee woman to surpass 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. She currently ranks fifth in career rebounds (1,027) and is 19th in points (1,520).
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A member of the University of Tennessee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Russell assists in planning community service events by UT student-athletes. She has participated in Hoops for Hope, bringing visibility to the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee. She took part in the Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest with East Tennessee Children's Hospital and the Community Holiday Meal that provided members of Knoxville's homeless community with a warm meal and toiletry kit.Â
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Additionally, she participated in Voloween, a Halloween event in which student-athletes host children in costume for an evening of games and treats at UT's Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex.
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This marks the 20th year for the SEC Community Service Team for women's basketball as well as for men's basketball. All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men's and women's sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.
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Russell, a 6-foot-6 center from Springfield, Ore., has started all 27 games for the Lady Vols this season, averaging 15.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest. She is shooting 60.7 percent from the field, which ranks as the fifth-best season rate in school history and stands No. 13 nationally and No. 2 in the SEC in 2017-18.
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On watch lists for the Lisa Leslie Award as well as the Naismith and Wade Trophies, Russell has recorded 13 double-doubles this year, the second most by a senior in UT annals. She has tallied 43 in her career to rank third all-time among Lady Vols. Earlier this season, she became only the sixth Tennessee woman to surpass 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. She currently ranks fifth in career rebounds (1,027) and is 19th in points (1,520).
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A member of the University of Tennessee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Russell assists in planning community service events by UT student-athletes. She has participated in Hoops for Hope, bringing visibility to the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee. She took part in the Christmas Cookie Decorating Contest with East Tennessee Children's Hospital and the Community Holiday Meal that provided members of Knoxville's homeless community with a warm meal and toiletry kit.Â
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Additionally, she participated in Voloween, a Halloween event in which student-athletes host children in costume for an evening of games and treats at UT's Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex.
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Players Mentioned
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Wednesday, May 13
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Friday, March 20
