Monday, January 25, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Shannon Murphy led FGCU to a 2-0 record last week. For her performance, Murphy claimed her first Player of the Week award of her career, the conference office announced on Monday.

In FGCU's, 79-52, win against Kennesaw State on Thursday, Murphy, a native of Brighton, Mich., chipped in with 17 points, a game-high nine assists, and three steals. In the Eagles, 84-77, win versus the Mercer Bears on Saturday, the management major scored a career-high 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 7-of 11 from three-point range. Murphy also added a game-high eight assists. The weekend sweep by the Eagles keep FGCU atop the A-Sun standings, a half-game lead over ETSU, the 2009 league champion.

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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
Kate Cloxton, Campbell (So. - Guard - Winfield, W. Va. - Criminal Justice) – Cloxton led Campbell to a 2-0 week in Nashville, Tenn., averaging 16.0 points and 5.0 assists per game against Belmont and Lipscomb. The sophomore guard exploded for 20 of her career-high 22 points in the second half to pace CU in a 74-67 win at Belmont and added four assists in the win, leading Campbell, who trailed by as many as 13 in the second half. At Lipscomb, the criminal justice major tacked on another 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.

Tee’Ara Copney, USC Upstate (Fr. - Guard - Asheville, N.C. - Undeclared) – Copney led USC Upstate to three A-Sun wins on the week, including two on the road at Jacksonville. The freshman guard scored five points, along with two rebounds and three steals against Kennesaw State on Monday, Jan. 18, helping USC Upstate to a 73-66 win. Copney also posted a career-high 29 points, including 21 in the second half to lead USC Upstate to a come-from-behind win at UNF on Thursday, including two layups and a steal on back-to-back plays to spark a decisive 22-4 run after the Spartans fell behind by 11 points. The Asheville, N.C. native added 23 points and career highs of six steals and four 3-pointers to lead USC Upstate to a 79-72 win at Jacksonville.

Siarre Evans, ETSU (Sr. - Guard/Forward - Griffin, Ga. - Sport Management) – Evans put everything on the line to help ETSU extend its winning streak to six straight games. The senior saw limited action in both games due to a nagging knee injury but still put up astonishing numbers. Evans averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals in only 21.0 minutes per game, finished 11-of-17 from the field (.647), 5-of-8 from beyond the arc (.625), and 10-of-11 from the free throw line (.909), while also committing zero turnovers in 42 total minutes. On Thursday, the preseason player of the year selection averaged a point a minute in the 11-point victory at Lipscomb (76-65). Evans came off the bench to post 14 points and four rebounds in 14 minutes of work. Then, on Saturday at Belmont, the Griffin, Ga. native came off the bench to record her 11th double-double of the season (44th of her career) by finishing with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds in the 81-67 win against the Bruins.

Courtney Jackson, Jacksonville (Sr. - Guard - Atlanta, Ga. - Psychology) – Jackson tallied her first double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds to help Jacksonville overcome UNF in overtime on Monday, Jan. 18. The senior guard also collected three assists, two blocks and two steals, including a swipe in overtime which set the go-ahead score. Jackson closed the week with 11 points, two assists and two steals versus USC Upstate. The Atlanta, Ga. native’s two steals pushed her into fifth on the all-time list with 117.

Lacy Ramon, Mercer (So. - Center - Norman, Okla. - Broadcasting) – Ramon averaged a double-double and tallied back-to-back career-high 20 point games in Mercer’s win against Stetson and loss at A-Sun leader FGCU. The sophomore center also grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds against the Hatters.