ROCK HILL, S.C. – Anderson University graduate Shameka McNeill garnered First Team All-SAC recognition, while Diamond McDowell was named to the All Freshman Team and named the SAC Freshman of the Year, released by the league office on Thursday morning.

First Team honoree, McNeill, had a stellar season for the Black and Gold. On the year, McNeill averaged 22.5 points per game (36 points career high vs Coker), 3.7 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game while leading the league and nation in scoring. The native of Charlotte, N.C. reached the 1000-point milestone, scoring 565 points during regular season play and was named the Statistical Champion for Points per Game (22.5). McNeill also ranked third in the SAC for steals per game (2.2) swiping a total of 54 for the season. 

McDowell becomes the fourth Trojan in program history and second since joining the SAC in 2010 to earn Freshman of the Year award after former standouts Leann Segers (2002-2003), LaShonda Chiles (2003-2004) and Alexy Mollenhauer (2016-2017) claimed the honor for the Black and Gold.

The Asheboro, N.C. native posted five double-doubles, notched 11 double-digit scoring games and 13 eight-plus rebound contests. McDowell scored a career high 17 points against Mars Hill and ripped down a career high 19 rebounds versus Lenoir-Rhyne. The freshman guard averaged 8.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, which ranks third in the SAC rebound average. McDowell started 22 games, while averaging 29.5 minutes per game.

Graduate Samantha Michel earned Statistical Champion for the second year in a row for Blocked Shots per Game (2.24). In her two-year career as a Trojan, Michel has blocked 108 shots which ranks fifth all-time in AU history books.

Anderson was also awarded Statistical Champions in two team categories, Team Rebounds (1,270) and Team Field Goal Percentage Defense (35.8). In Coach Barbaree's six-years at the helm, Anderson has been awarded both of these categories for five of the six seasons.

The Trojans advanced to the semifinal round of the SAC Tournament after defeating Limestone, 67-50, on Wednesday evening. Anderson will face the top-seeded Bulldogs from Wingate on Saturday at Timmons Arena in Greenville, S.C. Tip-off is slated for Noon.

2021-22 South Atlantic Conference Women's Basketball All-Conference

First Team

Quin Byrd, Limestone

Shameka McNeill, Anderson

Shemya Stanback, Catawba

Lindsey Taylor, Carson-Newman

Bryanna Troutman, Wingate

Braelyn Wykle, Carson-Newman

Second Team

Haleigh Brandon, Wingate

Hannah Clark, Wingate

Emily Harman, Lenoir-Rhyne

Kalee Johnson, UVA Wise

Reagan McCray, Limestone

Lyrik Thorne, Catawba

Third Team

Jalia Arnwine, Tusculum

Addison Byrd, Carson-Newman

Brianna Dixon, Tusculum

Kalaya Hall, Queens

Brandi Hudson, Lenoir-Rhyne

Nia Vanzant, UVA Wise

All-Freshman

Maddie Dillinger, Lenoir-Rhyne

Maddie Gillie, Mars Hill

Kalisha Hill, Limestone

Diamond McDowell, Anderson

Campbell Penland, Carson-Newman

Player of the Year

Bryanna Troutman, Wingate

Freshman of the Year

Diamond McDowell, Anderson

Defensive Player of the Year

Shemya Stanback, Catawba

Coach of the Year

Ann Hancock, Wingate

Statistical Champions

Points Per Game – Shameka McNeill, Anderson; 22.5

Three-Pointers Per Game – Reagan McCray, Limestone; 3.22

Rebounds Per Game – Haleigh Brandon, Wingate; 13.3

Blocked Shots Per Game – Samantha Michel, Anderson; 2.24

Field Goal Percentage – Lindsey Taylor, Carson-Newman; 64.2

Assists Per Game – Quin Byrd, Limestone; 4.3

Assist-to-Turnover Ratio – Abby Wilson, Carson-Newman; 2.30

Steals Per Game – Shemya Stanback, Catawba; 2.59

Three-Point Field Goal Percentage – Reagan McCray, Limestone, 45.5

Free Throw Percentage – Reagan Kargo, Limestone; 92.6

Team Scoring Offense – Carson-Newman; 81.4

Team Steals – Catawba; 328

Team Field Goal Percentage – Carson-Newman; 46.6

Team FG Percentage Defense – Anderson; 35.8

Team Assists – Carson-Newman; 527

Team Rebounds – Anderson; 1,270

Team Blocked Shots – Carson-Newman; 140

Team Three-Point FG Percentage – Wingate; 39.1

Team Scoring Defense – Tusculum; 59.3

Team Free Throw Percentage – UVA Wise; 77.0

Team Assist-to-Turnover Ratio – Carson-Newman; 1.21