February 28, 2001

Southern Conference Announces Women*s Basketball Media All-Conference Team

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- The Southern Conference announced today the 2001 Women*s Basketball Media All-Conference team. The media voted on two teams comprised of five players each. Five different squads were represented on the first team.

Appalachian State' s Natasha Lettsome earned the media*s Player of the Year award after leading the league in rebounding (8.6rpg). A senior forward, 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).

Chattanooga's Damita Bullock, a junior guard, recorded the best free throw percentage (.810) in the league and ranking fifth in scoring (14.3ppg). Bullock ranks among the conference leaders in scoring, rebounding, free-throw percentage and defensive rebounds.

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 Laura Echols, a junior center, led the league in scoring, averaging 17.9 points per game and fifth among the field-goal percentage leaders. Wofford's Jenny Nett led the defensive effort for the Lady Terriers, averaging 5.44 defensive rebounds and 41 steals. Georgia Southern had two players selected to the second team. Senior forward Sharon Mitchell finished the regular season averaging 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as teammate Danna Simpson, a junior guard, averaged 10 points and 2.36 steals per game. Simpson finished the regular season with the second best free-throw percentage in the league, shooting .809 (76-94) from the charity stripe.

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. 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.

Appalachian State's Aisha Bryant was selected as the media's pick for Freshman of the Year. The guard averaged 7.9 points per game and recorded 24 steals while shooting a team-high .722 (65-90) from the free-throw line.

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 Media All-Conference Team First Team

Natasha Lettsome, Appalachian State
Damita Bullock, Chattanooga
ChoRhonda Gwaltney, UNC Greensboro
Laura Echols, Western Carolina
Jenny Nett, Wofford

Second Team
Wilma Simpson, College of Charleston
Tara Charles, Furman
Sharon Mitchell, Georgia Southern
Danna Simpson, Georgia Southern
Brianne Dodgen, UNC Greensboro

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