Tuesday, January 25, 2011

MACON, Ga. – USC Upstate’s Tee’Ara Copney led the Spartans to a 3-0 week including two conference home victories to earn the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week award, while Mercer’s freshman Briana Williams poured in 41 points against Jacksonville, the most points scored by a freshman this season, to garner her second career A-Sun Newcomer of the Week honor, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Tee’Ara Copney, USC Upstate (Guard – So. – Asheville, N.C. – Mass Communications)
• First A-Sun Player of the Week award
• Led the Spartans to home victories against Longwood, Belmont and Lipscomb
• Averaged 18.7 points, six rebounds and 5.3 assists on the week
• Passed the 600-point plateau in the seven-point Lipscomb victory; scoring 19
• Added a game-high 23 points in the 18-point triumph against Belmont

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Tara Davis (Guard, ETSU) – Pushed the Lady Bucs to a sweep over Lipscomb and Belmont
• Natasha Graboski (Center, Stetson) – Scored a team-high 16 points in a home victory over previously undefeated FGCU
• Jazmine Cooper (Forward, Campbell) – Tied a career-high in points with 15 against FGCU
• Haley Nelson (Post, Belmont) – Reached double figures in points for the 14th time this season with 19 points at USC Upstate
• Sharmesia Smith (Forward, Mercer) – Averaged 12 RPG while also adding 7 PPG for the Bears

NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK:
Briana Williams, Mercer (Guard – Fr. – Jackson, Ga. – Media Studies)
• Second A-Sun Newcomer of the Week award
• Registered 41 points against Jacksonville, the most points scored by a freshman this season in the nation
• Her 41 points ties for fifth-most points scored on the season
• Also ranks as the most points scored by an A-Sun player since at least the 2001-02 season
• Set the University Center facility record for most points scored

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Kim Roach (Forward, USC Upstate) – Totaled 13 points with career highs of eight rebounds and three steals against Belmont
• Destiny Mitchell (Forward, ETSU) – Earned her seventh double-double of the season against Belmont
• Victoria McGowan (Guard, Stetson) – Averaged 15.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 3.5 APG for the Hatters
• Molly Ernst (Guard, Belmont) – Second on the team in scoring last week with 9.0 PPG on five three-pointers

PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Jan. 18: Brittany Kirkland (UNF) and Victoria McGowan (Stetson)
Jan. 11: Shannon Murphy (FGCU) and Destiny Mitchell (ETSU)
Jan. 4: Tara Davis (ETSU) and Destiny Mitchell (ETSU)
Dec. 28: Courtney Chihil (FGCU) and Sasha Sims (Stetson)
Dec. 21: Natasha Graboski (Stetson) and Sarah Whitfield (FGCU)
Dec. 14: Shaunda Strayhorn (Belmont) and Ashley James (Campbell)
Dec. 7: Briana Williams (Mercer) and Destiny Mitchell (ETSU)
Nov. 30: Shannon Murphy (FGCU) and Sarah Hansen (FGCU)
Nov. 23: Anna Bowers (Lipscomb) and Briana Williams (Mercer)  
Nov. 16: Tara Davis (ETSU) and Molly Ernst (Belmont)

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