Date Posted: 3/7/2006

Macon, Ga. - The Atlantic Sun Conference today announced its Women's Basketball All-Conference Team, selected by the league's 11 head coaches. Belmont freshman Alysha Clark headlines the All-Conference Team, after earning honors in four categories.

The five-time A-Sun Player of the Week was voted both Player and Freshman of the Year. After leading the Bruins to their second regular season title, Clark is the first rookie in A-Sun women's basketball history to win both awards in the same season. In addition, she is a unanimous All-Conference and All-Freshman team selection. The Mt. Juliet, Tenn., native has dominated since her first game of season, recording 17 double-doubles and averaging 19.5 points (2nd in the A-Sun) and a league leading 11.4 rebounds per game. Clark ranks second among all freshmen in the nation in scoring, rebounding and double-doubles.

Newcomer ETSU had two players pick up post-season accolades. Sophomore Nichelle Akers (Sumter, S.C.) earned Defensive Player of the Year and senior B.J. Banjo (Baltimore, Md.) was unanimously voted first team All-Conference. While defensive effort doesn't always show up in the box score, Akers averaged 2.20 steals per game in the Bucs' A-Sun debut season. Banjo, one of the league's leading point producers, averaged 19.5 ppg and ranks among the nation's top-20 in scoring, 3-point field goal percentage (.434), and 3-pointers made (2.95). The 5-5 gunner was named A-Sun Player of the Week three times and dropped a league high 39 points on Southeast Missouri.

Voted Preseason All-Conference, Stetson's Nefertiti Walker (Atlanta, Ga.) lived up to the coaches' predictions and was unanimously selected first team All-Conference. The senior guard leads the A-Sun in scoring with 22.4 ppg and has scored 25 points or more eight times during the season. Named second team All-Conference a season ago, she currently ranks in the country's top-15 in free throw percentage (90.8) and 3-pointers made (3.21). Walker sank an A-Sun season best 61 treys.

Rounding out the first team All-Conference list are Jacksonville's Ashley Williams (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Florida Atlantic's Shontavia Williams (Miami, Fla.). Ashley, a two-time Player of the Week honoree, receives her first All-Conference designation after averaging 17.5 points and 7.6 boards per game. She has posted six double-doubles and is listed among the league's top-five in scoring, field goal percentage (.558), free throw percentage (.824) and blocks (2.10).

Shontavia, who took second team All-Conference honors last year, helped lead the Owls to a 17-10 (16-4 A-Sun) record and is the second seed heading into the tournament. Named Player of the Week twice this season, the senior guard is among the A-Sun's top-10 in scoring (16.2), steals (1.9), rebounds (7.0) and 3-point field goals made (29).

In his 22nd season at Belmont, head coach Tony Cross was voted Coach of the Year after posting his 21st winning season and leading the Bruins to their second A-Sun regular season title. Including the 2005-06 regular season, Cross has a career record of 471-202 and looks to extend it, coaching the top seed in this year's tournament.

As Championship week gets underway, 14 of the 15 student-athletes that received post-season honors will vie for the league's automatic bid at the 2006 Atlantic Sun Women's Basketball Tournament, held March 9-11 at the Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Ala. A complete list of All-Conference honorees is below.

Related Links:
 • All Conference Team