For Immediate Release February 24, 1999
McConnell, Rhodes, and Morris Named All-ODAC
McConnell and Rhodes Second Teamers, Morris Honorable Mention
SALEM, Va.--Roanoke College women's basketball players Carrie McConnell (Dublin, VA/Pulaski County) and Cheryl Rhodes (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) have both been named to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's Second Team All-Conference squad. Teammate Toree Morris (Salem, VA/Glenvar) has been named an Honorable Mention player in the vote of all 11 league coaches. The trio led the Maroons to a 19-5 overall record this year, 17-3 in league play, and a number-two ranking in the ODAC tournament, which is set to begin on Thursday.
After suffering a major knee injury last season, McConnell has bounced back to start all 24 games at the point guard position for the Maroons this year. The senior is averaging 7.9 points per game, but more importantly is leading the club in assists, averaging 5.5 per contest. Her 132 total assists this year is the third highest single-season mark in school history. In a contest with Randolph-Macon Woman's College on January 10th, McConnell set a school and conference record by recording 15 assists in the contest (the conference record has since been surpassed). The old marks were 13. She is second on the team with 16 three-pointers, and leads the team with 45 steals. This is the first time in her career that she has been chosen as an All-Conference player.
In 22 games this season, Rhodes is averaging 10.4 points per game, the second-best number on the team, and is leading the team in rebounds, averaging 5.5 boards each time out. Rhodes set a personal-best for points in a game this season when she dropped in 22 in a win at Virginia Wesleyan on January 6th. She has scored in double-figures 12 times this season, and is fourth on the team with 25 steals. She has been an important factor in leading the Maroons to their 19 wins this year. In those 19 contests, Rhodes is leading the team in scoring, tossing in 11.4 points per game. A junior, Rhodes was an Honorable Mention All-ODAC selection last season.
The Maroons' biggest threat from the perimeter, Morris has made 65 three-pointers this season, by far the most on the team, and just three away from tying a single-season school record. The third best scorer on the team (10.2 ppg), Morris has made 65 of her 82 total field goals this year from behind the three-point line. The senior is second on the team in assists (68) and third on the club in steals (27). She was also an Honorable Mention All-ODAC player last season.
This trio will lead the Maroons into the Quarterfinals of the ODAC tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Roanoke will play the Emory & Henry Wasps in a first round game that is slated to tip-off at 6:00 pm. The Maroons are beginning their quest for their 13th ODAC championship, and their 10th consecutive bid to the NCAA tournament.