PBC YEARBOOK
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The defeat ends a magical run for the FMU women, who sat
on the bubble to make the tournament and then swept through the
Southeast Regional as the seventh seed. Under the direction of firstyear head coach Jeri Porter, Francis Marion’s 24-9 record represents
the most wins for the program in six seasons, and the Elite Eight
appearance was only the second ever for the program since moving
to NCAA affiliation in 1992.
Francis Marion was led by 5-8 sophomore forward Briana
Burgins who scored a career-high 29 points on 10-of-19 shooting.
The High Point, N.C., native also shot 9-of-10 from the foul line and
grabbed four rebounds. Burgins was coming off a Most Outstanding Player performance in the regional where she posted a pair of
double-doubles.
FMU senior guard Camille Dash added eight points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals in her final collegiate game. The
lone four-year senior on the squad, the Savannah, Ga., native ends
her time at FMU with 872 points in 112 contests.
The Patriots managed only 30.8 percent shooting, the team’s
third-worst figure of the season. UAA in contrast connected on 51.6
percent of its field goal attempts.
The 37-2 Seawolves were led by Jessica Madison with 15 points,
while Alysha Devine added 12 points, and All-American forward
Megan Mullings 11 points and nine rebounds.
FMU finished the night only 1-of-14 from three-point territory,
but was 14-of-18 at the free throw line. UAA hit half of its 14 threepoint attempts and was 8-of-12 at the stripe. The Patriots forced 16
turnovers, while committing 18 themselves. UAA led the rebounding
battle 41-34 and held a 44-22 advantage in points-in-the-paint.
FMU’s other senior, forward Alaysia Watts, chipped in five points
and three steals.
2015-16 Women’s Basketball
All-Conference Team
First Team
Bre Crum, Lander
Kadesha Gibbs, Georgia College
Kelsey Hutchins, North Georgia
Kariel Hutt, Augusta University
Michelle Mitchell, Columbus State
Second Team
Ashley Asouzu, Columbus State
Breonna O’Connor, Augusta University
Cierra Jackson, North Georgia
Breshay Johnson, Lander
DaQuenna Moore, Clayton State
Third Team
Andrea Benford, Clayton State
Kenisha Jones-Barrett, Clayton State
Jonissa Monley, UNC Pembroke
Ty’Hesha Reynolds, Lander
Alaysia Watts, Francis Marion
Player of the Year
Michelle Mitchell, Columbus State
Freshman of the Year
Shaunice Fulmore, Francis Marion
Defensive Player of the Year
Bre Crum, Lander
co-Coaches of the Year
Jonathan Norton, Columbus State
Nate Teymer, Augusta University
Mitchell Becomes Two-Time WBCA All-American
Augusta - For the second consecutive season, Columbus State
University women’s basketball player Michelle Mitchell was named
an All-American by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association,
announced by the organization Monday night. Kelsey Hutchins and
Cierra Jackson of North Georgia, and Kariel Hutt from Augusta were
all named All-America Honorable Mentions.
With the selection, Mitchell is the first two-time All-American
in Lady Cougar basketball history. Mitchell is one of 10 players voted
to the 2016 All-American team and the only one from the Peach Belt
Conference.
The senior wrapped up her career in grand fashion, capturing
her second consecutive Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year
award while leading the Lady Cougars to back-to-back regular season
PBC championships.
Mitchell led the league in scoring at 20.3 points per game and
averaged 8.5 rebounds, which ranked in the top 10 as well. On her
44
way to the scoring title, Mitchell had 21 games this season with at
least 20 points. She poured in a season high 30 in the PBC Tournament
championship game against Lander.
The Eastman, Ga. native also posted 11 double-doubles, picking
up one in her last collegiate game against Francis Marion in the NCAA
Tournament second round.
Mitchell will leave Columbus State with her name littered
throughout the record book. She walks away as the program’s leader in
field goals made (524) and points per game (20.2). Mitchell also ranks
third in points scored (1,274), fifth in field goal percentage (.477) and
sixth in rebounds per game (8.0).
2015-16