Dori Nagy Named Region Player of the Year; LaShayla Wright-Ponder Garners Second-Team Honors
JACKSON, Tenn. - The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) has announced its 2020 Women's Basketball All-South Region Teams. The all-region teams are made up of 11 total players from the Gulf South Conference (GSC), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The teams are voted on by the sports information directors from each league.
The 2020 D2CCA Women's Basketball South Region Player of the Year is Dori Nagy of the University of Tampa. She helped lead her team to the SSC Regular Season Championship and a runner-up finish in the SSC Tournament. She was named the SSC Player of the Year. Nagy led the SSC in rebounding at 9.5 rebounds per game and was third with 16.1 points per game.
Joining Nagy on the South Region First Team is GSC Player of the Year, Jada Smith from Union University and the SIAC Player of the Year, Ay'Anna Bey from Benedict College. Smith averaged 18.8 points per game this season, third in the GSC, and led the conference with 5.4 assists per game. Smith led Union to the GSC Regular Season Co-Championship and the GSC Tournament Title. Bay averaged 17.2 points per game, fourth in the SIAC and led the league with 9.5 rebounds per game. Bay led Benedict to the SIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
The remaining two first-team spots went to Quantesha Patterson of Delta State University and Abby Bertram of Lee University. Patterson was fourth in the GSC with 17.4 points per game and led the league in rebounding with 13.4 boards per game. Bertram averaged 14.1 points per game and led her team to the GSC Regular Season Co-Championship. Both players were named first team All-GSC performers.
The South Region Second Team included Bryne Lytle (Christian Brothers University), Tiffany Valentine (Spring Hill College), Jordan Tully (Nova Southeastern University), LaShayla Wright-Ponder (University of Tampa), Le'Andrea Gillis (Savannah State University), and Sakina Wynn (Miles College).
Ten different teams made up the 11 members named to one of the all-region teams. Tampa was the only school with two honorees. The GSC and the SIAC each had four players honored, while the SSC had three players honored.
First team members will be nominated for the D2CCA Women's Basketball All-America Team. The 2020 D2CCA All-America Team will be announced Monday, March 23. The NCAA D2 Elite Eight Championships are set for March 24-27 in Birmingham, Ala. The South Region Championships will start Friday, March 13 in Cleveland, Tenn. at Lee University.
2020 D2CCA Women's Basketball All-South Region Teams
South Region Player of the Year: Dori Nagy, University of Tampa
First Team All-Region
Dori Nagy, University of Tampa
Jada Smith, Union University
Ay'Anna Bey, Benedict College
Quantesha Patterson, Delta State University
Abby Bertram, Lee University
Second Team All-Region
Brynne Lytle, Christian Brothers University
Tiffany Valentine, Spring HIll College
Jordan Tully, Nova Southeastern University
LaShayla Wright-Ponder, University of Tampa
Le'Andrea Gillis, Savannah State University
Sakina Wynn, Miles College