Ellison Named USA South Conference Player of the Year

Tanaesha Ellison Is The First WPU Player To Win USA South Player of the Year

RALEIGH, N.C. – Tanaesha Ellison capped a phenomenal year by winning the USA South Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year Award on Wednesday. She is the first-ever William Peace player to earn the prestigious league honor.

Ellison, a junior guard from Asheboro, N.C., was simply spectacular this season. Also a first-team All-USA South selection, Ellison averaged a double-double in points per game (23.9) and rebounds per game (11.1) to lead the conference in both categories. Ellison is also the league's steals leader, averaging 3.7 per game.

Nationally, Ellison ranks among the top 10 Division III scorers and defenders. She is seventh in the country in points per game and ninth in steals per game.

Her relentless energy and superior quickness on both ends of the floor keyed the Pacers to a USA South Conference tournament berth after failing to qualify last year. Her signature move was creating a turnover on defense and going coast-to-coast full speed for a layup. Defenders could not stay in front of her as Ellison blew by them for an easy shot or assist.

Often, defenders fouled Ellison in an effort to stop her, as attested by her trips to the free throw line. She ranks third in the nation in free throw attempts and second in free throws made.

One particular game highlighted her brilliance. She amassed 33 points, 24 rebounds and 11 steals in a 70-60 home win over Mary Baldwin in early January. The 24 rebounds and 11 steals were conference highs as well as the 43 points she scored in a loss to Salem last month. She also broke the school single-game record for points and rebounds.

Ellison racked up numerous conference and national awards during the season. She was named the USA South Player of the Week four times and was selected to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week twice. Her biggest regular-season honor was being named NCAA Division III Player of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

Now she can add the USA South Player of the Year Award to her trophy case.

Player of the Year	Rookie of the Year	Defensive Player of the Year	Coach of the Year
Tanaesha Ellison William Peace	Aryauna Brent Mary Baldwin	Kayrisma Harrison N.C. Wesleyan	Cheryl McNair Methodist

The 2023-24 USA South Women's Basketball All-Conference Team:

First Team	Second Team	Honorable Mention
Tanaesha Ellison, William Peace Kayrisma Harrison, N.C. Wesleyan Josie Hester, Brevard Abigail Snyder, Southern Virginia Aniyah Tate, Methodist	Jessica Drake, Methodist Aysia Foster, Southern Virginia Areina Harris, N.C. Wesleyan Olivia Miller, Brevard Dionne Sampson, Salem	Aryauna Brent, Mary Baldwin Ruth Kempler, Southern Virginia Nadia Simmons, N.C. Wesleyan

All-Sportsmanship

Cassie Plemmons, Brevard
Samiah Mitchell, Greensboro
Codie Heilig, Mary Baldwin
Emme Baber, Meredith
Rebecca McGaughnea, Methodist
Johnay Goddard, N.C. Wesleyan
Lola Cabaness-Ali, Pfeiffer
Cree Bass, Salem
Emma Camden, Southern Virginia
Keslee Hylton, William Peace

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