SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference Sports Media Association selected its 2012 women’s basketball all-conference teams and postseason awards today (March 1). Appalachian State’s Anna Freeman was selected as Player of the Year while Davidson head coach Michele Savage was named Coach of the Year.
Freeman was the league’s leading scorer, averaging 15.4 points per game. The junior also led the SoCon in free throw percentage (.888) and steals (3.7 ppg). She is ranked sixth in the nation in steals per game.
Savage, who was also chosen by her peers as Coach of the Year on Wednesday, is in her second year at the helm of the Wildcats and led Davidson to a 21-8 (17-3 SoCon) record and a share of the league’s regular season crown and the top seed in the conference tournament.
Appalachian State’s Maryah Sydnor was selected as the Freshman of the Year. She averaged 9.8 points per game and 4.9 rebounds. Sydnor was the third leading scorer for the Mountaineers and picked up player of the week honors after tying a season-high of 20 points against Samford. She also went a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
Freeman, Sophia Aleksandravicius (Davidson), Laura Murray (Davidson), Whitney Hood (Chattanooga) and Ali Ford (Elon) were all named First Team all-conference by the media.
Paige Anderson (Samford), Courtney Freeman (Appalachian State), Kelsey Evans (Elon), Kaila’Shea Menendez (Western Carolina) and Raegan Thompson (Furman) were selected for the Second Team.
Sydnor along with Brittany Hodges (Furman), Taylor Reece (Samford), Sam Coffer (Elon) and Anna Claire Knight (Georgia Southern) were named to the Media’s All-Freshmen team.
The 2012 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament begins Friday, March 2 at 11:30 a.m. at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C. The championship game is scheduled for Monday, March 5 at 5:00 p.m.
2012 SoCon Women’s Basketball Awards
All-Conference First Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Laura Murray, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Whitney Hood, Chattanooga
All-Conference Second Team
Courtney Freeman, Appalachian State
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Raegan Thompson, Furman
Paige Anderson, Samford
Kaila’Shea Menendez, Western Carolina
Media All-Freshmen Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Sam Coffer, Elon
Brittany Hodges, Furman
Anna Claire Knight, Georgia Southern
Taylor Reece, Samford
Media Player of the Year
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Media Freshman of the Year
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Media Coach of the Year
Michele Savage, Davidson