MOBILE, Ala. – On Tuesday, University of South Alabama women’s basketball players Mansa El (second team) and Mary Nixon (third team) each picked up preseason all-Sun Belt Conference honors as announced by the league office at its annual media day event.  The Lady Jags were also chosen by league coaches to finish third in the East Division.

SOUTH ALABAMA SENOIORS EL AND NIXON NAMED ALL-SBC
El – a preseason second-team all-conference selection on Tuesday – returned last season from a knee injury, started all 30 games at the point guard position.  She led the club in scoring with 12.1 points per game - 13th in the conference – and ranked second on the club in three-point shooting at 31.4 percent (57-of-172), en route to earning third-team all-SBC honors in 2011-12.  The Houston, Texas native was tied for third in the SBC in three-pointers per game (1.8) and ranked 11th in three-point shooting, while also ranking as one of the top free-throw shooters in the league.  She finished third in the conference in that category after connecting on 79.2 percent of her attempts at the charity stripe.  El also averaged 2.1 assists per game and led the club in steals with 39.  She scored double-figures in a team-best 19 games – including three 20-point outings – and led the club in scoring 13 times.  

The third-team selection was the first of her career for Nixon who started all 29 games in which she competed as a junior, missing just one game due to injury.  The Pensacola, Fla., averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in 24.3 minutes of action and was the second-leading rebounder on the club.  Nixon posted double figures 10 times and had two double-figure rebounding games.  She recorded a career-high 17 points versus North Texas (Jan. 4) on 7-of-14 shooting and later tied that mark with 17 points at Florida Atlantic (Feb. 22) on 8-of-13 shooting.  Nixon had 10 of her 17 points against the Owls in the second half.  In the regular season finale, she registered 16 points and was a career-best 3-for-3 from three-point range at Florida International (Feb. 25).  Nixon was also a force for the Lady Jags at the defensive end of the floor as she ranked second on the squad with 37 steals.

Florida International’s Jerica Coley was selected as the Sun Belt’s Players of the Year.  Middle Tennessee and UALR each had a league-high three players selected to the all-conference squads, while South Alabama, Florida International and Western Kentucky had two selections.

2012-13 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference First Team
Taylor Gault (UALR, Sophomore, Guard)
Jerica Coley (FIU, Junior, Guard)
Icelyn Elie (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Forward)
Kortni Jones (Middle Tennessee, Senior, Guard)
Ebony Rowe (Middle Tennessee, Junior, Forward)

2012-13 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Taylor Ford (UALR, Junior, Guard)
Jane Morrill (Arkansas State, Junior, Forward)
Chenise Miller (Florida Atlantic, RS-Junior, Forward)
Finda Mansare (FIU, Senior, Forward)
Mansa El (South Alabama, Senior, Guard)

2012-13 Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Conference Third Team
Janette Merriex (UALR, Senior, Guard/Forward)
Jasmine Shaw (Louisiana-Monroe, Junior, Guard)
Mary Nixon (South Alabama, Senior, Guard)
Chastity Gooch (WKU, Sophomore, Forward)
Alexis Govan (WKU, Sophomore, Guard)

2012-13 Women’s Basketball Preseason Player of the Year
Jerica Coley (FIU, Junior, Guard)

LADY JAGS SELECTED TO FINISH THIRD IN THE EAST
South Alabama was also picked to finish third in the Sun Belt’s East Division on Tuesday.  The Lady Jags received 46 total points in the poll voted on my coaches from around the league.  Middle Tennessee picked up 10 of the 11 first-place votes in the division, while Florida International had the other.  

In the West, UALR was the top pick with 10 first-place votes, while Arkansas State had the other.  

2012-13 Women’s Basketball Predicted Order of Finish - Coaches' Votes in Parentheses

EAST DIVISION
1. Middle Tennessee - 65 pts (10)
2. Florida International - 54 pts (1)
3. South Alabama - 45 pts
4. Florida Atlantic - 29 pts
5. Western Kentucky - 26 pts
6. Troy - 12 pts

WEST DIVISION
1. UALR - 54 pts (10)
2. Arkansas State - 39 pts (1)
3. North Texas - 33 pts
4. Louisiana-Monroe - 24 pts
5. Louisiana-Lafayette - 15 pts

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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