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the NCAA Division II sports information directors from institutions
and conference offices. Lander’s Breshay Johnson was named an
Honorable Mention.
Carter was the only Peach Belt Conference player selected
among the three teams and becomes just the fourth different
player in Lady Cougar history to earn All-American laurels.
The Atlanta native starred for the Lady Cougars this season,
leading CSU in points, rebounds, blocks and steals. She wrapped
up the season averaging 16.6 points and 10.5 rebounds, both of
which rank among the top 10 single-season totals in program
history. Carter also set the single-season record for blocks with
105 in Tuesday’s Elite Eight contest against Virginia Union.
The junior was a First Team All-PBC and All-Southeast Region
selection this season, and was named the PBC co-Defensive Player
of the Year.
The only non-senior in the CSU starting lineup, Carter helped
the Lady Cougars match the single-season record for wins with a
31-2 overall mark and their third regional championship and Elite
Eight appearance.
The Division II Conference Commissioners Association en-
courages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards
of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education.
The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as
they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division
II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a
communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges
and universities.
Patriot forward Burgins earns Ashe Sports-Schol-
ar Award
Francis Marion University junior women’s basketball player Briana
Burgins has earned an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports-Scholar Award for
2017. The honor is presented by Diverse magazine, a publication
that addresses issues in higher education.
The High Point, N.C., native was named to the fourth-team for
women’s basketball. The 131 women’s hoop players recognized
were from all division of competition, and Burgins was the only
women’s student-athlete from the Peach Belt Conference to
appear on any of the 19 sports recognized by the magazine.
A biology major, Burgins has registered a cumulative grade
point average of 3.39. She has twice been named to the PBC
All-Academic Team and is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa
honor society. She has served on the university’s Student-Athlete
Advisory Committee (SAAC) for each of the past two years and
was an FMU Diplomat in 2014-15. She has been named to the
PBC Presidential Honor Roll each of her first two years and been
recognized on the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll
five times.
2016-17 Women’s Basketball
All-Conference Team
First Team
Ashley Asouzu, Columbus State
Alexis Carter, Columbus State
Kelsey Hutchins, North Georgia
Breshay Johnson, Lander
Ty’hesha Reynolds, Lander
Second Team
Andrea Benford, Clayton State
Kwajelin Farrar, USC Aiken
Shaunice Fulmore, Francis Marion
Alyah McGriff, Georgia College
Mylea McKenith, Lander
Third Team
Machala Raymonville, Armstrong State
Tierra Johnson, Clayton State
Jonissa Monley, UNC Pembroke
Breonna O’Conner, Augusta
Meredith Tarver, Young Harris
Freshman of the Year
Kwajelin Farrar, USC Aiken
Player of the Year
Breshay Johnson, Lander
co-Defensive Players of the Year
Alexis Carter, Columbus State
Mylea McKenith, Lander
Coach of the Year
Anita Howard, Columbus State
“Earning this award is a humbling accomplishment,” Burgins said.
“You grow up hearing about these awards on television and seeing
other well-known athletes such as Kara Lawson from the University of
Tennessee and Nigel Williams-Goss from Gonzaga University receiving
this award, and then to know you are among them is a great feeling. I
am extremely proud and blessed to represent Francis Marion University
with such an honor.”
A three-year starter, Burgins led the Patriots in rebounding (8.1
rpg), steals (71), and minutes played (36.0 per game) this past season,
while ranking third in scoring (12.5 ppg). She led the FMU regulars in
field goal accuracy (43.9%).
The 5-8 forward helped lead the Patriots to an 18-12 record, a
second-place finish in the PBC’s East Division, and an appearance in the
semifinals of the conference tournament.
As a sophomore, Burgins was named the Most Outstanding Player
of the 2016 NCAA II Southeast Regional and went on to score a ca-
2016-17