March 25, 2014

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina’s top two scorers continue to earn recognition for their efforts in the Gamecocks’ success as Tiffany Mitchell and Aleighsa Welch were named to the WBCA All-Region 3 Team. They are the first Gamecocks to be named to the team. Both were First-Team All-SEC selections from the league’s coaches earlier this season.

Mitchell has been the Gamecocks’ top scorer all season, averaging 15.5 points on 50.6 percent shooting. Her scoring average is 10th in the SEC, and she also ranks 11th in assists with 3.5 per outing. She has scored in double figures 29 times in 33 games so far this season, including six 20-point outings. Between her points and assists, she has accounted for at last one-third of the Gamecocks’ scoring in 14 games this season. Her efforts did not drop off in SEC play as she was the only player to rank in the league’s standings in points, rebounds, assists and steals. The wide range of skills earned her SEC Player of the Year honors from the league’s coaches, making her the first Gamecock and just the second sophomore in league history to win the award. She also earned a spot on the league’s All-Defensive Team.

Welch’s work has been just as integral to the Gamecocks’ success this season as her 13.6 points per game are 17th in the SEC and her 7.5 rebounds per outing are ninth. She is second in the league and 14th in the nation in field goal percentage, hitting 56.8 percent of her shots this season. With eight double-doubles to her credit, she has posted double-figure points 28 times, including three 20-point games. Her leadership goes beyond the box score as she is counted on as one of three team captains to enhance the team chemistry that has made the Gamecocks so successful this season. In addition to her All-SEC honors, Welch was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.

The Gamecocks play in the NCAA Tournament round of 32 tonight in Seattle, taking on Oregon State in a 9:40 p.m. (ET) tipoff. The game will air on ESPN2 in South Carolina and Oregon.

WBCA All-Region 3 Team

DeNesha Stallworth, Kentucky
Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina
Aleighsa Welch, South Carolina
Meighan Simmons, Tennessee
Isabelle Harrison, Tennessee
Christina Foggie, Vanderbilt
Jasmine Lister, Vanderbilt