ROCK HILL, S.C. - With the regular season wrapped up and the 2014 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championships on the horizon, the conference office announced on Wednesday its all-conference teams and honorable mention award winners on Tuesday, as Anderson's Sierra Simpson, Lesley Woods and Alexis Dillard were named to All-SAC honors.
Simpson headlines the trio being named to the All-SAC Second Team for her second postseason all-conference honor of her career, earning a spot on the SAC All-Freshman Team in her first season with the Black and Gold. The Simpsonville, S.C. native averages a league-leading 4.9 assists per game with a 1.8 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks fourth in the conference.
Despite her 5-foot-6 frame, Simpson is 17th in rebounds per game at 5.8 per contests, while ranking eighth in offensive rebounds per game (2.5). Defensively, the guard is slotted fourth in steals per game at 2.2, while averaging 31.9 minutes per game (14th in SAC).
Simpson is currently shooting 38.6 percent from the floor and has totaled three double-doubles this season with two being a combination of points and rebounds and one double-double being in points and assists.
Woods earns her first postseason recognition, being named to the conference's first-ever honorable mention list. The junior ranks first in the conference in 3-point percentage at 36.8, while also earning the top spot in 3-pointers made per game (2.7). Woods is the only player in the SAC with 70 or more made 3-pointers this season with 75, as she is 20th in total points for the year (283).
Currently, the sharpshooter is one trey away from tying former standout Leeann Segers' mark of 144 made 3-pointers in the program's all-time list. Most recently, Woods surpassed Mikala Fogle-Wilson for eighth-place after sinking three 3-pointers against Tusculum on Feb. 26.
The native of Raleigh, N.C. has been a major part to Anderson's offensive success this season, as it closed the season leading the conference in points per game (70.9) and in 3-point percentage (33.2).
Dillard becomes the first Trojan since Simpson and second AU player since joining the conference in 2010 to be named to the all-freshman team. Defensively, Dillard has shined, currently ranking ninth in the league in rebounds per game (6.8) and third in blocks per game (1.8). Dillard posted a season-high six blocks against Wingate earlier this season, the most blocks by a Trojan in a game since 2010.
The Taylors, S.C. native posted two double-doubles this season, highlighted by a 14-point, 11-rebound performance in an 80-57 win over Tusculum in late February.
Anderson looks to continue its conference tournament winning streak as the defending champions begin this year's tournament campaign similar to last season's when the Trojans squared off with Lincoln Memorial in the quarterfinals. This time around, the opening game will be in Harrogate, Tenn., but AU seeks the same results as the Trojans eliminated the Lady Railsplitters 76-46 at the Abney Athletic Center a year ago.
All-SAC First Team
Jazmine Charles, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kayla Harris, Wingate
Haylee Lepaio, Newberry
Aisjah Roan, Lincoln Memorial
Janitsha Williams, Wingate
Jenni Gust, Lenoir-Rhyne
All-SAC Second Team
Shonice Pettaway, Queens
Chloe Bully, Catawba
Tanesha Stenson, Coker
Ansley Ricker, Mars Hill
Sierra Simpson, Anderson
Tasia Holdorf, Newberry
All-SAC Honorable Mention
MaRanda Boddie, Lincoln Memorial
Antionette McPhail, Catawba
Katie Williams, Brevard
Lesley Woods, Anderson
Kristen McMillon, Tusculum
Danielle Bongiorno, Lenoir-Rhyne
All-Freshman Team
Kaitlyn Cupples, Carson-Newman
Madison Lenox, Brevard
Shelby Tricoli, Wingate
Alexis Dillard, Anderson
Jada Huntley, Catawba
Player of the Year: Jazmine Charles,
Lenoir-Rhyne
Freshman of the Year: Kaitlyn Cupples,
Carson-Newman
Coach of the Year: Todd Starkey, Lenoir-Rhyne
