W. Basketball

11/2/2009

McKever, Lyons named to preseason All-Peach Belt team

Lyons (left) and McKever

GREENWOOD - Lander University's Shannon McKever and Ciara Lyons were included on the preseason All-Peach Belt Conference women's basketball team in a ballot voted on by the coaches and released by the league office on Monday (Nov. 2).

McKever and Lyons were instrumental in helping the Lady Bearcats win their second straight PBC tournament last season and advance to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

McKever, a junior center from Florence, S.C., was named the 2009 PBC tournament Most Valuable Player and second-team All-PBC. She averaged 13.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and scored in double figures 22 times. She also posted 11 double-doubles in points and rebounds.

Lyons, who was voted the PBC Freshman of the Year in 2009, is a sophomore guard from Augusta, Ga. She averaged 12.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game nad was named third-team All-PBC.

Other members of the preseason All-PBC team are: Columbus State's Phebe Smith, the 2009 PBC Player of the Year who also earned All-American honors; Francis Marion's Shannon Singleton-Bates, who earned honorable mention All-American honors; USC Aiken's Kendra Chandler; and Clayton State's LeSheria Stevens.

The Lady Bearcats will open the 2009-10 season on Nov. 15 at Valdosta State University.