USA South Athletes of the Week - Feb. 20, 2012

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.)

Men's Basketball Player of the Week
Conley Taylor, Christopher Newport - The senior guard from Newport News, Virginia led the Captains to a 2-0 record versus USA South competition last week by averaging 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. In a 69-60 win over Shenandoah, Taylor totaled 19 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. In a 99-95 win over Averett, Taylor notched a double-double with a season-high 36 points and ten rebounds. He also added four assists and three blocks in the victory. Also Nominated: Bryan Hockaday, Methodist; Domarius Thomas, N.C. Wesleyan; Jonathan Setters, Averett; Marcus Mayo, Ferrum; Luqman Tijani, Greensboro.

Women's Basketball Player of the Week
Danielle Duncan, Greensboro - The Greensboro, North Carolina senior center led The Pride to a 3-0 record last week, including two wins versus USA South competition, by averaging 18.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. In an 84-59 win over Allen, Duncan totaled 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. In a 68-63 victory over USA South foe Averett, Duncan tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block. Finally, in a 66-50 win over USA South rival Shenandoah, Duncan scored 25 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out one assist. Also Nominated: Kristen Keith, Ferrum; Mette Scheiman, Averett; Megan Rahn, Meredith; Tia Perry, Christopher Newport; T.T. Taylor, Methodist.

Baseball Player of the Week
Joey Donofrio, Shenandoah - The junior outfielder from Ashburn, Virginia went 7-for-11 (.636) with five RBI, three runs scored, two doubles and one home run as the Hornets posted a 1-2 record last week. In a 4-2 win over Cortland State, Donofrio was 3-for-4 with two RBI, one run scored and one double. In two losses to Misericordia, Donofrio went a combined 4-for-7 with three RBI, two runs scored, one double and one home run. Also Nominated: Tyler Younger, Methodist; Cody Moore, Averett.

Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Chris Moyer, Averett - The Grafton, Virginia junior has earned two wins and one save in three appearances last week for the Cougars. In a 4-3 win over Guilford, Moyer tossed a perfect final inning to earn a save. In a doubleheader sweep of Eastern Mennonite, Moyer tossed a total of four innings of relief and earned two victories after allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout. Also Nominated: Jacob Cadle, Greensboro; Tyler Easterly, Ferrum; Ryan Fleischmann, Christopher Newport; Kaleb Wessell, N.C. Wesleyan; Vince Claudio, Shenandoah.

Softball Player of the Week
Kristina McLaughlin, Christopher Newport - The sophomore outfielder from Virginia Beach, Virginia has hit .615 (8-for-13) with seven RBI, four runs scored, one double, two home runs and two walks to begin the season for the Captains. In two wins over Maryville, McLaughlin went a combined 4-for-5 with seven RBI, four runs scored, two home runs and two walks. In two losses to Emory, McLaughlin went a combined 4-for-8 with one double. Also Nominated: Brooke Hensley, Averett; Brittany Evans, Greensboro.

Softball Pitcher of the Week
Kelsey Sanfilippo, Greensboro - The New Bern, North Carolina sophomore earned a 1-0 record last week in two appearances for The Pride. Sanfilippo totaled five innings pitched and allowed one unearned run without allowing a hit on three walks with nine strikeouts. In a 4-1 loss to Lynchburg, Sanfilippo entered in relief to pitch two scoreless innings with one walk and five strikeouts. In a 10-1 win over Lynchburg, Sanfilippo tossed the first three innings, allowing one unearned run on two walks with four strikeouts to earn the victory.

Women's Tennis Player of the Week
Rachel Purser, Methodist - The junior from Matthews, North Carolina earned wins at both the number-one and two singles flights, along with a win at the number-two doubles flight last week. In singles play, Purser collected a straight-set win at the number-two position over the 23rd-ranked player in the region from Oglethorpe. She also added a singles win at the top-spot against an opponent from Piedmont. In doubles, her lone victory came over opponents from Oglethorpe. Also Nominated: Puja Patel, Meredith.

Rookies of the Week

Men's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Mike Cherry, Christopher Newport - The Lewiston, North Carolina freshman guard helped the Captains to a 2-0 record versus USA South competition last week by averaging 17.5 points, 2.5 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. In a 69-60 win over Shenandoah, Cherry totaled 18 points, three rebounds and one assist. In a 99-95 win over Averett, Cherry contributed 17 points, four assists, two steals and one rebound. Also Nominated: Devonta Davis, Greensboro; Sunil Ram, Averett.

Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week
Camry Green, Christopher Newport - The Richmond, Virginia freshman center helped the Captains to a 2-0 record last week versus USA South competition, by averaging a double-double of 13.0 points and 11.5 rebounds, to go along with 2.0 blocks, per game. In a 68-52 win over Shenandoah, Green totaled 15 points, nine rebounds and one block. In a 75-29 win over Peace, Green notched a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds. She also added three blocks in the victory. Also Nominated: Derreon Cole, N.C. Wesleyan; Keyanka Bailey, Meredith; Courtney Woods, Methodist.

Baseball Rookie of the Week
Nic Futrell, Averett - The freshman catcher from Yorktown, Virginia hit a game-winning single in his first collegiate at-bat to help the Cougars defeat Eastern Mennonite, 6-5. It was the only game Futrell appeared in last week as he collected his first career run batted in. Also Nominated: Dan Melton, Greensboro.

Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Hatteras Brooks, N.C. Wesleyan - The Washington, North Carolina freshman earned the win in a 7-2 victory over Polytechnic (NY) in his only appearance on the mound last week. Brooks tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out ten batters to earn his first collegiate victory. Also Nominated: Adam Duncan, Ferrum.

Softball Rookie of the Week
Sabrina Hill, Christopher Newport - The freshman first baseman from Stafford, Virginia has hit .462 (6-for-13) with six runs scored, three RBI, one double, one triple, two home runs and two walks to begin the season for the Captains. In two wins over Maryville, Hill went a combined 2-for-6 with three runs scored, two RBI, one triple, one home run and one walk. In two losses to Emory, Hill went a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored, one run batted in, one double, one home run and one walk. Also Nominated: Amanda White, Meredith; Jackie Nicholson, Greensboro; Lauren Averitt, Averett.

Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Leah Powell, Averett - The Midlothian, Virginia freshman earned a no-decision in a 4-3 loss to Lynchburg in her only appearance for the Cougars on the mound last week. Powell tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits.

Women's Tennis Rookie Player of the Week
Kayla Green, Shenandoah - The freshman from Warrenton, Virginia earned a win at both the number-three singles and number-two doubles flights over opponents from Hood in her only action last week. In singles action, Green did not allow her opponent to earn a game as she was victorious 6-0, 6-0. In doubles, Green teamed with Ilana Rozin to earn an 8-4 win. Also Nominated: Emily Talley, Methodist; Caroline Hunt, Meredith.

PLEASE NOTE: At least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.