Gianna Messina Garners Daktronics All-South Regional Team Honors

MAGNOLIA, Ark. - One day away from competing in the NCAA Division II South Regional, The University of Tampa women's basketball team picked up 2010-11 Daktronics all-South Regional honors in the form of senior guard Gianna Messina.

Also tabbing first team all-Sunshine State Conference honors for the third straight year, Messina was tabbed as a second-team all-South Region performer, marking the second time the five-foot-seven guard had appeared on the team.

Veronica Walker of Delta State picked up the South Regional Player of the Year award.

Voting was conducted among the sports information directors in the South Region. The entire region nomination and voting procedures are powered by UT partner ATHLETICSITE.COM.

Messina, a native of Tampa, Fla. is second on the team in scoring averaging an impressive 15.5 points per game while leading her team in rebounds per game pulling down 7.8 boards a match. Picking up the most steals on the squad with a total of 46 on the year, the senior has also scored in double figures in 22 games played so far this season.

Tabbing the ninth spot in the nation, Messina's 45.5 3-point field goal percentage is also a big contributing factor as to why Tampa is the top 3-point field goal percentage team in the nation among all DII participants.

The 21-7 Spartans will open play in the 2011 NCAA South Regional versus SSC foe Florida Tech on Friday. The regional will be played in Russellville, Ark., as No. 1 seed Arkansas Tech will serve as the host institution. UT will play at 9:30 p.m. eastern.

First Team
* Veronica Walker (Delta State), Center, 6-1, Junior, Indianola, Miss.
Mystee Dale (West Alabama), Guard, 5-8, Senior, Laurel, Miss.
Natalia Santos (Arkansas Tech), Forward, 6-2, Junior, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Emma Cannon (Florida Southern), Center, 6-1, Senior, Rochester, N.Y.
Stephanie Sarosi (Nova Southeastern), Center, 6-5, Senior, Mims, Fla.
* Denotes South Region Player of the Year

Second Team
Lynisha Nelson (Florida Tech), Guard, 5-3, Senior, Melbourne, Fla.
Sarita "Bug" Cooper (Delta State), Guard, 5-6, Senior, Indianola, Miss.
Conisha Hicks (Clark Atlanta), Guard, 5-3, Freshman, Lithonia, Ga.
Gianna Messina (Tampa), Guard, 5-6, Senior, Tampa, Fla.
A'Laeshia Adams (Ouachita Baptist), Guard, 5-8, Junior, Little Rock, Ark.
Chelsea Patterson (Lynn), Guard, 5-6, Senior, Largo, Fla.