Friday, January 06, 2012

MACON, Ga. - Thirteen Atlantic Sun women's basketball conference games are slated for play over the next six days with 12 being broadcasted on ASun.TV and the Jacksonville at Stetson being streamed on ESPN3.

• For the first time this season, two Atlantic Sun teams appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Women’s Mid-Major Poll as FGCU remained at No. 4 and Stetson jumped into the rankings in 25th.
• The Eagles and Hatters also appeared in the top-100 RPI rankings that were released this week. FGCU leads the A-Sun in 70th place, while Stetson isn’t far behind in 85th. The two teams rank 19th and 31st, respectively, for winning percentage in the nation.
• Two A-Sun student-athletes are nearing the 1,000 career point mark. Belmont’s Haley Nelson (999 points) and USC Upstate’s Tee’Ara Copney (989 points) can reach the mark in their next couple of games. Lipscomb’s Anna Bowers (949) is also nearing the career mark. Currently, there are only two active players with 1,000 points; UNF’s Brittany Kirkland and FGCU’s Kelsey Jacobson.
• FGCU’s Jacobson claimed the top spot in the A-Sun career record books for career three-pointers made (294), which moved her past Stetson’s Kristen Follis (1990-94).
• Stetson’s Victoria McGowan tallied her second triple-double of the season in a win at Mercer with 29 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Her two triple-doubles ranks are the most in the nation this season. The junior guard leads the conference in scoring (16.7 PPG), assists (4.9 APG), steals (3.1 SPG) and free-throw shooting (.847).
• Jacksonville’s Crystal Bell - the reigning A-Sun Player of the Week - stepped up her defensive play this past week as she set the Dolphins single-game record for steals with seven against Lipscomb. The recent string of production also moved the senior guard into seventh place for steals by an active player with 90.
• USC Upstate’s Paulina Zavekaite has been outstanding in her past three contests as she has recorded double-doubles in each game. Her recent play earned her the A-Sun Newcomer of the Week honor as she pulled down 17 boards vs. Coastal Carolina and ETSU.
• Mercer’s Briana Williams has tallied five 20-point games this season, which is tied for most in the conference with McGowan. She has received some help on the offensive end recently as newcomers Ry’van Buchanan, Alicia Williams and Precious Bridges have each recorded 20-point outings. Buchanan scored 20 vs. Stetson (1/4) and 27 vs. Winthrop. (12/28), while Bridges and Williams reached the point mark earlier in December.
• After playing four of its past six games at home, Kennesaw State hits the road for its next three contests. The Owls have been great on the road this season by earning four road wins, which is third-most in the conference.
• ETSU’s Destiny Mitchell picked up her second double-double of the season in a win vs. USC Upstate with 10 points and 11 rebounds. It marked the second of the season for the sophomore and 13th in her career only trailing Belmont’s Haley Nelson (20) and Kennesaw State’s Sametria Gideon (18).