SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga’s Alicia Payne has been named General Shale Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for competition held March 2-8, the league office announced Wednesday.

A senior on the UTC women’s basketball team, Payne helped lead the Mocs to their fourth straight SoCon tournament title this past weekend. The do-it-all guard averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 rebounds in three tournament games, while also making her presence felt on the defensive end. Payne opened up the postseason with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in a 74-56 quarterfinal victory over Western Carolina before notching eight points, four assists and four steals as UTC bounced Samford, 49-41, in the semifinals.

Payne closed out her weekend by recording 12 points, five assists, four rebounds and a pair of thefts against Mercer in the title game on Sunday, as the Mocs prevailed, 65-57. The Memphis, Tenn., native was named the tournament’s most outstanding player for her efforts.

Payne, a social work major, boasts a 3.89 grade point average. As a junior, she earned a spot on the SoCon Winter All-Academic Team and was named to the SoCon Honor Roll after posting a 4.0 grade point average both semesters.

Other nominees: Cameron Little (The Citadel, women’s golf), Madison Boyd (ETSU, softball), Charlie Madden (Mercer, baseball) and Kassidy Blevins (Samford, women’s basketball).

General Shale SoCon Student-Athletes of the Week (since January)

Jan. 6: Lucy Mason, UNCG, Women’s Basketball

Jan. 13: Haydn Borghetti-Metz, ETSU, Track and Field

Jan. 20: Chandler Christopher, ETSU, Women’s Basketball

Jan. 27: Taylor Reece, Samford, Women’s Basketball

Feb. 3: Lyn Yee Choo, ETSU, Women’s Tennis

Feb. 10: Ashley Kessler, ETSU, Track and Field

Feb. 17: Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina, Softball

Feb. 24: Jose Hernandez, Mercer, Baseball

March 2: Allie Buchalski, Furman, Track and Field

March 9: Alicia Payne, Chattanooga, Women’s Basketball

-www.SoConSports.com-