Southern Conference Announces Women's Basketball Coaches All-Conference Team

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- The Southern Conference announced today the 2001 Women*s Basketball All-Conference team. The team consists of 10 players from eight member institutions. Five of the 10 women are repeat selections.

Georgia Southern's Sharon Mitchell is a three-time selection and rejoins the team after missing the 2000 season to injury. Mitchell, a senior guard, finished the regular season averaging 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Appalachian State's Natasha Lettsome, Chattanooga's Damita Bullock, ChoRhonda Gwaltney from UNCG and Laura Echols from Western Carolina are all two-time selections.

Bullock, a junior guard, earned the Player of the Year award for the second straight year, recording the best free throw percentage (.810) and ranking fifth in scoring (14.3ppg) in the league. She joins Jackie Smith from Furman as the only two players to earn back-to-back honors. Bullock ranks among the conference leaders in scoring, rebounding, free-throw percentage and defensive rebounds. A senior forward, Lettsome earned her second all-conference honor after leading the league in rebounding (8.6rpg). She also led the offensive rebounding (3.78orpg), ranks second in scoring (16.3ppg), third in field-goal percentage (.551) and tied for fourth in defensive rebounds (4.85drpg). UNCG senior guard Gwaltney ranks among the conference leaders in assist/turnover ratio (2nd), three-point field goal percentage (3rd), assists and free-throw percentage (6th), three-point field goals made (9th), steals (10th) and scoring (14th). WCU's Echols is also a two-time recipient. The junior center led the league in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game and fifth among the field-goal percentage leaders.

Five players join the team for the first time. College of Charleston's Wilma Simpson averaged 12.8 points per game, the sixth best in the conference. The sophomore forward has the fourth-best rebounding, averaging 7.2 per game while her .908 (76-94) free-throw percentage is good for second. UTC sophomore Jennifer Wilson is also a first-time selection. The forward was among the conference scoring leaders (10.4ppg) and ranked fourth in free- throw percentage (.771). Furman's Tara Charles led the conference in three-point field goal percentage, shooting .438 (49-112) from beyond the arc. The senior guard also led the conference in assists (4.89pg) and assist/turnover ratio (1.63). Brianne Dodgen, a junior forward from UNCG, averaged 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, ranking among the conference leaders. Her 5.15 defensive rebounds per game ranks second and she checks in at eighth among steals leaders. Wofford's Jenny Nett led the defensive effort for the Lady Terriers, averaging 5.44 defensive rebounds and 41 steals. The senior guard moved up a team after being selected to the second-team in 1999.

Western Carolina's Tiffany Hamm has been selected as the Freshman of the Year. The forward ranks ninth in the league in scoring, averaging 12.3 points per game, and her .496 (121-244) field-goal percentage is good for 10th. She ranks eighth among the free-throw percentage leaders (.768) and 10th with 16 blocked shots.

Georgia Southern head coach Rusty Cram earned the Coach of the Year award after leading his team to the sixth best turnaround in the country, going from 10-18 in 2000 to 21-6 in 2001, an 11.5 game improvement. He coached his team to two key wins, one each over UNCG and Chattanooga, and a share of the regular season title.

Southern Conference Coaches All-Conference Team

Natasha Lettsome, Appalachian State
Wilma Simpson, College of Charleston
Jennifer Wilson, Chattanooga
Damita Bullock, Chattanooga
Tara Charles, Furman
Sharon Mitchell, Georgia Southern
ChoRhonda Gwaltney, UNC Greensboro
Brianne Dodgen, UNC Greensboro
Laura Echols, Western Carolina
Jenny Nett, Wofford

Player of the Year Damita Bullock, UTC
Freshman of the Year Tiffany Hamm, WCU
Coach of the Year Rusty Cram, Georgia Southern