February 25, 2009 
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

USA South Women's Basketball Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for women's basketball. A total of 31 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams. Greensboro College's Dione Eccles earned Player of the Year honors and her coach, Jason Tuggle, was named Coach of the Year while Christopher Newport University's Kimmy Hopkins collected Rookie of the Year honors. Also, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school. All awards are voted on by the women's basketball coach at each institution.

Eccles, a freshman from Clemmons, North Carolina, led The Pride in scoring this season by averaging 19.6 points per game. Her scoring output ranked second in the USA South while her 3.8 steals per game was atop the league leaders. Additionally, Eccles averaged 6.8 rebounds per contest which ranked tenth in the Conference. Eccles, who also was named First Team All-Conference for the second consecutive year, was named the league's player of the week four times this season.

Hopkins, a freshman from Gainesville, Virginia, had a strong first season with the Captains. She averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while blocking a team-best 15 shots. For her efforts, Hopkins earned Third Team All-Conference honors while also being selected as the league's rookie of the week once this season.

Tuggle, in his seventh year as the head coach of The Pride, led Greensboro to the program's fourth regular season crown in the last five years. The Pride finished the regular season with 19-consecutive wins, compiling an overall record 24-1 with an unprecedented 18-0 mark in USA South play. This is Tuggle's fourth coach of the year honor in the last five years. The Pride now look to capture the USA South Tournament Championship for the second consecutive year.

Player of the Year                                                                
Dione Eccles - Greensboro

Rookie of the Year                                                                 
Kimmy Hopkins - Christopher Newport                                                          

Coach of the Year                                                                  
Jason Tuggle - Greensboro

The 2009 USA South Women's Basketball All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team	Second Team	Third Team
Danielle Duncan - Greensboro Dione Eccles - Greensboro Dezzire Gilliard - Methodist Chelsie Schweers - Christopher Newport Tonya Wright - Ferrum	Essence Chambers - N.C. Wesleyan Kim Enoch - Greensboro Katherine Flint - Shenandoah Jessica Moore - Christopher Newport Ashley Washington - Averett	Brittney Bullock - Ferrum Miranda Carrasco - Ferrum Brittany Cornelius - Meredith Christy Freeman - Peace Kimmy Hopkins - Christopher Newport
Honorable Mention	All-Sportsmanship
LeAnne Horne - Peace Mandy Johnston - Shenandoah Kristen Keith - Ferrum Caprice Laws - Ferrum Taylor Poirier - Averett Nikki Wilborn - Greensboro	Nikki Huffman - Averett Mary Kate Williams - Christopher Newport Shawnese Parker - Ferrum Chelsea Thomas - Greensboro Sabrina Desper - Mary Baldwin Hunter Johnson - Meredith Adriana Wilson - Methodist Dani Abbey - N.C. Wesleyan Brenna Mickey - Peace Stephanie Harrold - Shenandoah