Sissom named to all-tournament team

MTSU Lady Raiders Abbey Sissom and Jess Louro were named to the UTRGV Holiday Classic All Classic Team. Sissom scored a career high 28 points and Louro turned in her first career double double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in the win over Canisius.

EDINBURG, Texas - Former Cannon County standout Abbey Sissom was named to the UTRGV Holiday Classic All-Tournament team leading Middle Tennessee in two games at the event this week.

Sissom was outstanding in the two-day Classic, averaging 25 points, while shooting 44 percent from the field and a sizzling 50 percent from 3-point range. She also averaged three assists. Sissom played all 40 minutes in games vs. USC and Canisius.

Sissom's best performance in the tournament also happened to be one of the best of her career. Against Canisius, Sissom scored a career high 28 points. Her nine field goals were also a career high, while also connecting on 5-of-11 treys.

"(Coach Rick) Insell has been encouraging me to shoot the ball, and he has given me the green light," Sissom said. "My shots were falling in these two games and it felt good to help the team."

Sissom accounted for 51 percent of the team's scoring in the 55-45 win against Canisius, scoring 28 of the team's points. Factor in her four assists and Sissom was responsible for 36 of the 55 points, which is 65 percent of the scoring.

"Abbey stepped up big for our basketball team in this Classic," said Insell, a Woodbury native and seven-time Hall of Famer. "She was just solid in all areas of her game and she gave us a big lift. Abbey is one of the best shooters out there and she showed that. She was definitely deserving of the All-Classic honor."

All of Sissom's scoring prowess was necessary in the winning effort.

Canisius had pulled to within one in the third quarter, but Sissom scored 10 straight points and 12 of the team's 14 during a 5:05 stretch to push the lead to seven; however, Canisius fought back to make it a one-possession game in the final stanza.

Sissom stepped up once again, scoring eight of the team's 10 points in the final 2:38, including six straight to ice the win.

One day earlier, Sissom was equally impressive against USC. She scored what was then a season-high 22 points on the strength of five 3-pointers.

Middle Tennessee will take off for the Christmas break and return to action when it faces Kentucky at home, Dec. 28.