Monday, December 22, 2008

MACON, Ga. - Jacksonville guard Courtney Jackson led the Dolphins to a 3-0 week and the tournament title at the South Padre Island Shootout last week, and ETSU guard Siarre Evans notched a double-double in the Atlantic Sun Game of the Week to lead the Lady Bucs to their first conference win. For their efforts, the pair earned Co-Player of the Week honors the conference office announced, Monday afternoon.

Jacksonville junior Courtney Jackson has shaken off a slow start to the season and has developed into JU's top scoring threat in the last three games. Against UCF, she set a career high with 22 points after shooting 9-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Against SMU, she tied her career mark again with 22 points while connecting on a career-best 5-of-9 from long range. In the tournament final, she finished with 11 points while connecting on 3-of-4 3-pointers. For her efforts, she was named MVP of the South Padre Island Shootout while leading JU to a 2-0 record and the tournament title. For the week, she averaged 18.3 points and five rebounds while shooting a blistering .514 (19-37) from the field and .522 (12-23) from beyond the arc. This is Jackson’s first Player of the Week Award of her career

ETSU junior Siarre Evans helped guide the Lady Bucs to their first conference win of the season Thursday night at Kennesaw State, 79-78. The preseason all-conference player hit the Lady Bucs’ lone field goal in overtime and finished with a 19-point, 16-rebound performance, marking her 20th career double-double, and fifth of the season. Evans' 16 rebounds tied her career high, set in the Lady Bucs' previous game against Kentucky. Evans also tallied a season-high five assists and forced two steals in a career-high 45 minutes of work versus the Owls. For the game, Evans shot 7-of-20 from the floor (2-for-4 from beyond the arc) and ended 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Evans earns the weekly honor for the fourth time in her career, the highest total of any active league player.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers:
Adrianne McNally, FGCU (F – Howell, Mich. – Jr. – Pre-Nursing) – In the Eagles 76-59 win over Bethune-Cookman, McNally had 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Dominique Chism, Mercer (F – Dallas, Texas – Sr. – Education) – Averaging 15 ppg over two games, Chism earned all-tournament team honors at the Bahamas Sunshine Shootout.

Ebony Johnson, USC Upstate (G – Columbia, S.C. – Sr. – Interdisciplinary Studies) – Earned a spot on the Cozumel Cup All-Tournament Team thanks to an 11-point, eight-rebound effort against Oakland on Saturday.