March 2, 2009

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford head women's basketball coach Mike Morris has been named the Southern Conference's Coach of the Year by the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) when the organization released its postseason honors on Monday.

Morris has led his team this season to a 21-6 overall and record and a 16-4 SoCon record. The Bulldogs finished second in the conference in the regular season after being picked fourth in the preseason.

The 16 wins are the most conference wins in a season in program history. Samford has won at least 21 games in three of the last four seasons, and have averaged over 20 wins per season over the last four years.

This honor marks the second Coach of the Year award for Morris. He was named the Ohio Valley Conference's Coach of the Year in 2006.

The SCSMA also released its All-Conference teams. Samford sophomore guard Emily London was named first-team All-Conference, while sophomore forward Savannah Hill was named second-team All-Conference.

For the season, London leads the SoCon and ranks third in the nation in free throw percentage (92.5%) and leads the SoCon and ranks first in the country in three-point field goal percentage (47.7%).

London also leads the SoCon in three-point field goals made per game (2.3 pg.), and ranks third in the league in field goal percentage (50.2%). London leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game, and her 66 assists rank second on the squad.

Hill is currently second on the team in scoring with a 12.4 point per game average. She leads the team in rebounding, pulling down 5.4 boards per contest.

The league will also release a Coaches' All-Conference Team, which will be released on Tuesday.

Samford opens play in the SoCon Tournament Friday morning at 8 a.m. (CT). The Bulldogs will take on the winner of the UNC Greensboro-Wofford game, to be played Thursday evening.

2008-09 SCSMA All-Southern Conference Women's Basketball Team
First Team
Jade Hughes, College of Charleston
Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga
Mercedes Robinson, Davidson
Lee Stephens, Furman
Emily London, Samford

Second Team
Brittany Mixon, Appalachian State
Tonia Gerty, College of Charleston
Erin Ogan, Chattanooga
Savannah Hill, Samford
Brooke Johnson, Western Carolina

Player of the Year - Shanara Hollinquest, Chattanooga

Freshman of the Year - Tiara Gause, Elon

Coach of the Year - Mike Morris, Samford