Elon’s Evans and Ford Named Women’s Basketball All-Conference by Coaches, Media

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2013 postseason women’s basketball awards today, March 6. Elon seniors Kelsey Evans and Ali Ford earned all-league honors in both the media and coaches’ polls.

Ford, an all-league pick by the coaches and a first-team selection by the media, is now only the fifth player in SoCon history to be named to the all-conference team four times. The Morganton, N.C., native leads the team and ranks second in the conference in scoring (16.1 ppg), while also ranking first in the SoCon and fifth in the NCAA in free throw percentage (92.1). Ford is second on Elon’s all-time scoring chart and seventh on the conference’s all-time list with 1,966 career points. On Feb. 4, she became the SoCon’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and currently has 331 career threes. She also owns Elon’s career record in free throw percentage (82.7) and ranks fifth all-time in the conference. Ford, who has scored in double figures in 27 of Elon’s 29 games this season, has earned SoCon Player of the Week twice this year.

Evans, an all-conference selection by the coaches and a second-team pick by the media, ranks sixth in the conference in scoring (14.7 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (8.5 rbg). This marks the first time the Raleigh, N.C., native has earned post-season honors from the coaches, while it’s her third overall selection by the media. Earlier this season, Evans reached the 1,000-career point milestone and now ranks seventh on Elon’s all-time scoring chart with 1,372 points. On Jan. 28, she became Elon’s all-time leader in blocked shots and currently ranks second on the SoCon’s all-time list with 222. Evans is 22 rebounds shy of reaching 1,000 career rebounds, which would make her only the third player in program history to reach that mark in points and rebounds. She received the SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week honor this season and was most recently named the SoCon Player of the Week after her 31-point performance at Georgia Southern on March 4.

The 2013 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament begins Friday, March 8, at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C. The three-seeded Phoenix will play its first game on Saturday, March 9, at 6:45 p.m. against the winner of the Samford/Wofford game.

2013 SoCon Women’s Basketball Awards

All-Conference Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Laura Murray, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

All-Freshman Team
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Lucy Mason, UNCG
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina

Player of the Year
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson

Defensive Player of the Year
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson

Freshman of the Year
Holli Wilkins, Furman

Coach of the Year
Wes Moore, Chattanooga

Media All-Conference Team
First Team
Anna Freeman, Appalachian State
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson
Ali Ford, Elon
Kayla Christopher, Chattanooga
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga

Second Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Evans, Elon
Jazmine Martin, Samford
Daniella Motley, Wofford

Media All-Freshmen Team
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Lucy Mason, UNCG
Tatianna Jackson, Chattanooga
Lindsay Simpson, Western Carolina

Media Player of the Year
Sophia Aleksandravicius, Davidson

Media Freshman of the Year
Lucy Mason, UNCG

Media Coach of the Year
Wes Moore, Chattanooga