Huntingdon’s Pickens named first-team All-Conference

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon senior Pat Pickens was recognized by the USA South with the release of the women's basketball All-Conference team on Tuesday.

The Lady Hawks' career-scoring leader was named first-team All-Conference. Pickens received conference recognition during each of her four seasons. She was named to the Great South Athletic Conference All-Freshman team in 2012 and was a GSAC All-Conference pick as a sophomore in 2013. As a junior, during Huntingdon's first season in the USA South, she was named second-team All-Conference.

In 25 games this season, Pickens scored a program-record 497 points and averaged a program-best 19.9 points per game. She set the Lady Hawks' season records for field goals made (185) and free throws made (126) and finished with 252 rebounds, the fourth best season in Lady Hawks' history. Her 10.1 rebounds per game rank second in a season. She also had 60 steals and 54 assists.

Her 19.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game both ranked second in the USA South this season. She ranked sixth in steals.

Pickens, who set 17 Huntingdon career, season and single-game records during the past four seasons, closed her career with 1,473 points. The Anniston native holds the Lady Hawks' career records for field goals made (548), field-goal percentage (49.7) free throws made (376) and free-throw percentage (70.9) and ranks second in career steals (188), third in career rebounds (786) and fifth in career assists (156).

She set the Lady Hawks' record for points in a game with 37 and rebounds in a game with 20. She holds the top six single-game scoring marks in program history, three of the top five single-season scoring performances in program history and three of the top nine single rebounding performances in a season.

Junior Savannah Ward was named to the women's All-Sportsmanship team and senior Alex Layson was named to the men's All-Sportsmanship team.

Ferrum's Jacole Hairston was recognized as the Player of the Year and Ferrum's Zarkia Mattox was named the Rookie of the Year. Maryville's Darrin Travillian was chosen as the Coach of the Year.

On the men's side, Greensboro's Simeon Howard was named Player of the Year and Piedmont's Justin Vallejo was chosen as Rookie of the Year. William Peace's Claude Shields earned Coach of the Year honors.

USA South Women's Basketball All-Conference Team

Player of the Year: Simeon Howard, Greensboro

Rookie of the Year: Justin Vallejo, Piedmont

Coach of the Year: Claude Shields, William Peace