Women’s Basketball: Elon’s Rhodes Named Freshman of the Year; Harris, Brown Earn All-Conference Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 2014 postseason women’s basketball awards today, March 5. Elon’s Kelsey Harris, Jenifer Rhodes and Lauren Brown all earned all-conference honors by both the coaches and media, while Rhodes was also named the SoCon Freshman of the Year by the coaches.

Harris, an all-conference selection by the coaches and a second team pick by the media, leads Elon in scoring, averaging 12.2 points per game, and ranks 13th in the league. This marks the first time the Gastonia, N.C., native as earned all-conference honors after she was named to the preseason all-conference team in November. Harris reached the 1,000-career point milestone on Feb. 22 to become the 20th player in program history to reach that mark. The senior has scored in double figures 22 this season, including her career high 22 points against Mount Olive, while posting a double-double at UNCW with 16 points and a career-high 10 assists. Harris has played in 125 games in a Phoenix uniform in her career, making the start in 108 of those games.

Rhodes, an all-freshman team pick by the coaches and media, averaged 9.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game for the Phoenix in the regular season. The North Charleston, S.C., is the highest scoring freshman in the league and was selected as the CRONS Freshman of the Week three times this season. She has posted double figures in 13 games, including a career-high 20 points off nine field goals against Georgia Southern, and owns a career-high six blocks. Rhodes is the third Elon player in program history to earn freshman of the year honors, joining Tiara Gause (2008-09) and Ali Ford (2009-10) in the Phoenix record books.

Brown, an all-freshman team pick by the coaches and media, averaged 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists for Elon during the regular season. The Alpharetta, Ga., was named the CRONS Freshman of the Week on Nov. 26 after a career-high 17 points against East Carolina. Brown has also posted a career-high seven assists twice this season, while scoring in double figures nine times. She has played in all 29 Elon contests this season, making 26 starts.

The 2014 Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament begins Friday, March 7, at Kimmel Arena in Asheville, N.C. The fifth-seeded Phoenix will play its first game on Saturday, March 8, at 2:15 p.m. against the fourth-seeded Mountaineers of Appalachian State.

2014 SoCon Women’s Basketball Awards

All-Conference Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Laura Murray, Davidson
Kelsey Harris, Elon
Brittany Hodges, Furman
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Anna Claire Knight, Georgia Southern
Alex Black, Chattanooga
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

All-Freshmen Team
Lauren Brown, Elon
Jennifer Rhodes, Elon
Whitney Bunn, Furman
Hannah Nichols, Samford
Chelsey Shumpert, Chattanooga

Player of the Year
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

Defensive Player of the Year
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year
Jennifer Rhodes, Elon

Coach of the Year
Jackie Carson, Furman

Ann Lashley Inspiration Award
Shelby Campbell, Samford

Media All-Conference Team
First Team
Maryah Sydnor, Appalachian State
Laura Murray, Davidson
Brittany Hodges, Furman
Holli Wilkins, Furman
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

Second Team
Dakota Dukes, Davidson
Hannah Early, Davidson
Kelsey Harris Elon
Anna Claire Knight, Georgia Southern
Ashlen Dewart, Chattanooga

Media All-Freshmen Team
Lauren Brown, Elon
Jennifer Rhodes, Elon
Whitney Bunn, Furman
Hannah Nichols, Samford
Chelsey Shumpert, Chattanooga

Media Player of the Year
Taylor Hall, Chattanooga

Media Freshman of the Year
Hannah Nichols, Samford

Media Coach of the Year
Jackie Carson, Furman