Three Student-Athletes Honored for Excellence in Competition
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference announced its December athletes of the month today, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month. The athletes of the month are nominated by each member institution and selected by the conference office.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Ty Patterson, Chattanooga, Sr., G
Patterson averaged 16 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3 assists per game in the month of December while playing in six contests. The senior from Anderson, S.C., topped the 20-point mark twice with 22-point games against No. 15 Georgia Tech and Eastern Kentucky. He made three or more three pointers in four of six games and posted his first double-double with a career-high 11 rebounds to go with the 22 points against EKU. The senior guard had a career-high of nine assists without a turnover in the win over Long Island, and the Mocs are 5-2 with him in the lineup this season.
Other Nominees: Donald Sims (Appalachian State), Cameron Wells (The Citadel), Jake Cohen (Davidson), Adam Constantine (Elon), Jake Robinson (Western Carolina) and Noah Dahlman (Wofford).
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga, Sr., F
Averaging 18.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, Hollinquest scored in double figures in six of the seven games including three games with 20 or more points while leading the Lady Mocs to a 6-1 record in December. She recorded double-doubles against Clemson, UNC Greensboro and Richmond. At the St. Peter’s College Holiday Classic, Hollinquest scored 45 points and grabbed 19 boards in the two games and went 23-of-27 at the free throw line. She helped lead the Lady Mocs to a double-overtime win over the Spiders and the tournament crown and was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player. The player of the month citation is the second in a row for Hollinquest and her fourth such honor in the past six dating back to November 2008.
Other Nominees: Ashlen Dewart (Appalachian State), Sophia Aleksandravicius (Davidson), Urysla Cotton (Elon), J’Lisia Ogburn (Georgia Southern), Lakiah Hyson (UNC Greensboro), Emily London (Samford) and Mahagony Williams (Wofford).
WRESTLING
Josh Wine, VMI, Jr., 285 pounds
Wine, the two-time defending Southern Conference champion in the heavyweight class, was a perfect 7-0 during the month of December. The junior claimed the 285-pound title at the Wilkes Open and provided the decisive points in the Keydets’ first dual win of the season, a 21-15 decision over Gardner-Webb on Dec. 11.
Other Nominees: Odie Delaney (The Citadel) and Jason McCroskey (Chattanooga).