SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced today the Athletes of the Month for November. One athlete is chosen from each sport: football (offensive and defensive), men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and wrestling.
Football
Offense
Appalachian State’s Armanti Edwards had a total of 1,243 yards and 16 touchdowns in four games to lead the Mountaineers to a share of the Southern Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division I quarterfinals. Edwards rushed for 615 yards and 12 touchdowns while eclipsing the 100 yard plateau three times in four games. Edwards threw for 628 yards and four touchdowns. He completed 67.5 percent of his passes and was intercepted twice. Edwards rushed for the 291 yards, second highest total in Southern Conference history against The Citadel. He also totaled 439 of offense which is the fourth most in school history. Edwards completed 26-of-31 pass attempts against rival Western Carolina for 295 yards and ran for three touchdowns in the win.
Defense
Appalachian State’s freshmen linebacker D.J. Smith led the Mountaineers with 49 tackles, two interceptions and a pass break up. He is second on the team with four tackles for a loss. Smith tallied double-digit tackles in three of the four games with 16 against The Citadel. His 16 tackles were the most by an Appalachian State freshman since Dexter Coakley’s 21 against The Citadel in 1993. Smith returned one of his two interception 23 yards for a touchdown versus The Citadel.
Men’s Soccer
Furman’s Haris Cekic, who won the Southern Conference Freshmen of the Year, had four goals, eight points and a shot on goal percentage of .412 as he lead the Paladins to a 5-2 record. Cekic scored the game-winner against Lipscomb in the regular season finale and tallied Furman’s first goal in a 2-1 win over Elon is the conference semi-final. Cekic scored his second game-winner in overtime against UNC Greensboro to win the championship. He led Furman with 10 goals and scored a goal in the NCAA first round game against Campbell.
Women’s Soccer
Furman’s Rachel Fry scored four goals and added two assists to guide Furman to a 4-1 record, Southern Conference tournament title and a berth in the NCAA tournament. She tallied three game winning goals, including two in the Southern Conference Tournament as Furman claimed the tournament crown. Fry scored two goals against Chattanooga in the regular season finale and carried that scoring into the quarterfinals where she netted the game-winner against Appalachian State. In the semifinals against Davidson Fry headed in the game-winner with less then three seconds left in double overtime to give Furman a 1-0 win. Fry added a assist in a 3-1 win over UNC Greensboro in the championship game. Fry earned Southern Conference Tournament MVP and All-Tournament honors.
Volleyball
College of Charleston’s Tiffany Blum had 115 kills, a .328 hitting percentage and 49.0 blocks. Blum was named to her fourth all-conference team and named the tournament MVP for the third straight year. Blum led the Cougars to the NCAA Sub-Regional for the fourth straight year. She started all 29 games and earned double-digit kills in six of the eight matches. She had 22 kills against UNCG Greensboro in the championship game, which is her second highest total as well as 11 blocks against Furman, which is the most for a player against Furman.
Men’s Basketball
Davidson’s Stephen Curry averaged 26 points, shot 50 percent from the field, 41 percent from behind the arc and 92 percent at the stripe. Curry had 38 points against Appalachian State that include nine three pointers. He scored 24 points in a losing cause against No.1 North Carolina on November 14. Curry is ranked fifth nationally in scoring with 25 points per game.
Women’s Basketball
Western Carolina’s Brooke Johnson has led the Catamounts to a 4-1 start. Johnson has led the Lady Catamounts in scoring three of the first five games. Her play helped Western Carolina defeat Clemson and propelled them over No. 22 Louisville, 77-72. Johnson had a double-double against Clemson with 10 rebounds and 11 points. She had 17 points against Louisville and was named to the Minnesota Subway Classic All-Tournament Team. Johnson had a season high 21 points and 6 blocks against UNC Asheville. Johnson led the team in scoring with 14.4 points per game.
Wrestling
Chattanooga’s Matt Koz has led the Mocs to their highest national ranking in the Division I era, No. 11. Koz is 9-0 at 197-pound weight class, that includes a 11-2 decision over Ohio State, going 4-0 at the Keystone Classic and placing first by way of pin, tech fall and major decision.