March 4, 2008
COLUMBIA – South Carolina junior forward Demetress Adams earned spots on the All-SEC second team and the SEC All-Defensive team the conference announced today. The league’s coaches voted to honor Adams as one of the top 16 players and among the best five defenders in the conference. She enters this week’s SEC Tournament ranked fourth in the league in rebounding, sixth in blocks and ninth in steals.
As a junior, Adams has enjoyed her best season at South Carolina, posting 10.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Scoring in double figures in 20 of 29 games so far, she has been the team’s leading scorer 20 times and top rebounder in seven games. She has recorded eight double-doubles this season, in which the Gamecocks are 7-1. Her season highlight came in a 26-rebound effort against Arkansas, which broke a 33-year-old school record. Her 26 boards are the most in the NCAA this season and the most by any player in an SEC game in league history.
In addition to her rebounding high, Adams set several other career-high marks this season, including 21 points in the season opener against Saint Francis (Pa.). She hit eight field goals against Penn State, handed out eight assists against Jackson State, added five blocked shots against UNC Asheville and swiped six steals at Clemson. Adams currently stands fifth in school history with 49 blocked shots this season, moving her into fifth place in South Carolina history with 112 career blocks.
The 10th-seeded Gamecocks open play at the SEC Tournament in Nashville on Thu., March 6, at 3:30 p.m. (ET) against No. 7-seed Florida. The teams split the two regular-season meetings with each team winning on the other’s home floor.
All-Conference First Team – DeWanna Bonner, Auburn; Quianna Chaney, LSU; Marshae Dotson, Florida;Sylvia Fowles, LSU*; Alexis Hornbuckle, Tennessee; Tasha Humphrey, Georgia; Candace Parker, Tennessee*; Christina Wirth, Vanderbilt.
All-Conference Second Team – Demetress Adams, South Carolina; Shannon Bobbitt, Tennessee; Sarah Elliott, Kentucky; Shawn Goff, Mississippi; Ashley Houts, Georgia; Samantha Mahoney, Kentucky; Jennifer Risper, Vanderbilt; Erica White, LSU.
All-Defensive Team – Demetress Adams, South Carolina; Sylvia Fowles, LSU*; Alexis Hornbuckle, Tennessee; Jennifer Risper, Vanderbilt; Birttney Vaughn, Arkansas.
* indicates unanimous selection
Coach of the Year Van Chancellor, LSU
Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles, LSU
Freshman of the Year Angie Bjorklund, Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Year Sylvia Fowles, LSU
6th Woman of the YearJessica Mooney, Vanderbilt, and Allison Hightower, LSU
Scholar-Athlete of the YearChelsea Chowning, Kentucky
