Women's Basketball All-Conference Team Announced

2/29/2012 8:30:00 PM

Birmingham, Ala. — Delta State and Alabama-Huntsville were the top two teams in the Gulf South Conference this season and – not surprisingly – take home the top individual prizes as the GSC announces its All-Conference teams along with Player, Freshman and Coach of the Year awards.

Lady Statesmen forward Veronica Walker was named Player of the Year for the third consecutive season while teammate Rhandi Ball was named the league’s top freshman. Alabama-Huntsville’s Roy Heintz was chosen Coach of the Year.

Valdosta State joins UAH and DSU with two players each on the All-GSC team. Four other schools (North Alabama, West Alabama, West Florida, and West Georgia) each had one player represented.

Delta State’s Walker Wins Third Player of the Year Award

For the third consecutive season, Delta State forward Veronica Walker wins the Player of the Year Award. Walker becomes just the third player in GSC history to win three Player of the Year awards, joining Shannon Williams of Valdosta State and Carone Harris of Central Arkansas. All three won Freshman of the Year honors and her three consecutive awards is matched only by Williams. The senior from Indianola, Miss., leads the GSC in scoring (18.5), field goal percentage (.558) and double-doubles (nine), is fifth in rebounds (8.4) and free throw percentage (.736), and sixth in blocked shots (30). She added the 3-point shot to her arsenal this season – making 50 percent (24-of-48) of her attempts – and was named Player of the Week three times this season. Her crowning achievement came when she became just the third player in GSC history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career, joining Williams and Delta State’s LaTanya Patty in the exclusive club. She is currently tied for fourth in points (2,128) and 11th in rebounds (1.043) in GSC annuls.

Delta State’s Ball Named Freshman of the Year

Delta State forward Rhandi Ball became a solid option on both ends of the court for the Lady Statesmen and has been selected Freshman of the Year. She is the seventh DSU player to earn the honor and the first since Veronica Walker won after the 2008-09 season. The 6-foot forward from Pontotoc, Miss. played in all 25 games for the Lady Statesmen, starting five of them. She averaged 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals in 22.6 minutes per game. Her 16 rebounds against Christian Brothers were tied for the third-highest total in the GSC this season.

Alabama-Huntsville’s Heintz Earns Coach of the Year

For the first time in his career, Alabama-Huntsville head coach Roy Heintz has been named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year. After overseeing a team that went 4-20 in his first season, Heintz led the Lady Chargers to a 21-5 mark, 11-3 in GSC play, and a second place finish in league play in just his third season. UAH has been in the top-10 in Division II in scoring most of the season, is currently the highest-ranked team in the South Region standings and has received votes in the WBCA Coaches Poll throughout the season. Heintz is just the second UAH coach to earn GSC top coach honors, the first since Andy Blackston in 2002-03.

2011-12 ALL-GSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FIRST TEAM

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
G	Jasmine Hammon*	UAH	So.	Muscle Shoals, Ala.
G	Jordan Smith*	UAH	So.	Hoover, Ala.
G/F	Shunice Hardy	UWG	Sr.	Stone Mountain, Ga.
F	Brittany Ferguson^	VSU	Sr.	Macon, Ga.
F	Veronica Walker*!#	DSU	Sr.	Indianola, Miss.

Freshman of the Year— Rhandi Ball, Delta State

Player of the Year— Veronica Walker, Delta State

Coach of the Year—Roy Heintz, Alabama-Huntsville

2011-12 ALL-GSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SECOND TEAM

Pos	Player	School	Year	Hometown
F	Brittany Weathers	UWA	Jr.	Hattiesburg, Miss.
G	Brooke Rhodes	DSU	So.	Pelahatchie, Miss.
G	Sher’Ryan Scott^	UWF	Sr.	Fort Deposit, Ala.
G	Sczeny Hartry*	VSU	Sr.	Lilburn, Ga.
G	Jasmine Horne	UNA	Sr.	Sheffield, Ala.

* 2010-11 All-GSC First Team selection ^ 2010-11 All-GSC Second Team selection

! 2009-10 All-GSC First Team selection # 2008-09 All-GSC Second Team selection

GSC head coaches voted for All-Conference honors. Ties were not broken.