the southern conference

THE
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
B A S K E T B A L L
A majority of the sports at Davidson compete in the Southern Conference, one of the
oldest conferences in the nation, which began its 87th season in 2007. The soccer, volleyball, cross country, track and field, basketball, tennis, wrestling, baseball and golf programs at Davidson all participate in the league.
Only the Big Ten (1896), the Missouri Valley (1907) and the Pac-10 (1915) conferences
have been around longer than the SoCon (1921). The conference currently consists of 11
members in four states throughout the Southeast and sponsors 19 varsity sports and
championships, which produce participants for NCAA Championships.
The Southern Conference was the first “super conference,” with charter membership including Alabama, Auburn and North Carolina. The SoCon gave birth to the
three-point shot in college basketball, has the oldest basketball tournament in the
nation and was the college home of such sporting greats as Arnold Palmer, Jerry
West and Charlie “Choo Choo” Justice.
Academic excellence has long been a major part of the Southern Conference’s tradition. League athletes have been recognized countless times on CoSIDA Academic
All-America and district teams. Eighteen Rhodes-Scholar winners have come out of
the conference, including six from Davidson. Each year, the league distributes at
least three graduate scholarships, two of which were won by Wildcat soccer players
in 2004.
DAVIDSON’S SOCON
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Baseball
Men’s Basketball
1985
1964, 1965, 1966,
1968, 1969, 1970,
1971, 1972, 1973,
1981, 1986, 1996,
1997, 1998, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, 2008
Women’s Cross Country
2003,
2005
Football
1969
Men’s Golf
1954, 1960, 1966,
1967, 1968
Men’s Soccer
1968, 1969, 1970,
1971, 1983, 1992,
1994, 1995, 2003,
2005
Women’s Soccer
1994, 1995, 1996,
2005
Men’s Tennis
1954, 1955, 1965,
1966, 1967, 1968,
1970, 1971, 1973
Volleyball
1999, 2000
Plain type denotes regular season title.
Boldface denotes tournament title.
Italicized boldface denotes regular season and
tournament title.
W I L D C A T
ALL-TIME SOCON
MEMBERSHIP
THE SOCON AT A GLANCE
Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Iamarino
Senior Associate Commissioner . . . . . . . Geoff Cabe
Associate Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sue Arakas
Assoc. Commissioner for Compliance . . Doug King
Dir. of Multimedia Services . . . . . . Mandi Copeland
Dir. of Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon Neff
Senior Account Executive . . . . . . . . . . Mike Mitchell
Director of Media Relations . . . . . . . . . Jason Yaman
Asst. Dir. of Media Relations . . . . . Jonathan Caskey
Media Relations Asst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russell Dorn
Championships/Operations Asst. . . . . . . Ben Austin
Assistant to the Commissioner . . . . . . . Laura Hayes
Southern Conference Commissioner John Iamarino presents Davidson’s Mercedes Robinson with an All-SoCon
First Team Trophy at the 2008 Southern Conference
Women’s Basketball Championships.
62
The Southern Conference
702 N. Pine Street
Spartanburg, S.C. 29303
Phone: 864.591.5100
Fax: 864.591.3448
www.soconsports.com
Alabama
1921-1932
Appalachian State
1971-present
Auburn
1921-1932
College of Charleston
1998-present
Chattanooga
1976-present
The Citadel
1936-present
Clemson
1921-1953
Davidson
1936-1988; 1991-present
Duke
1928-1953
East Carolina
1964-1976
East Tennessee State
1978-2005
Elon
2003-present
Florida
1922-1932
Furman
1936-present
George Washington
1936-1970
Georgia
1921-1932
Georgia Southern
1991-present
Georgia Tech
1921-1932
Kentucky
1921-1932
Louisiana State
1922-1932
Marshall
1976-1997
Maryland
1921-1953
Mississippi
1922-1932
Mississippi State
1922-1932
North Carolina
1921-1953
UNC Greensboro
1997-present
North Carolina State
1921-1953
Richmond
1936-1976
Samford
2008-present
South Carolina
1921-1953
Tennessee
1921-1932
Tulane
1922-1932
Univ. of the South
1922-1932
Vanderbilt
1922-1932
Virginia
1921-1937
VMI
1924-2003
Virginia Tech
1921-1965
Wake Forest
1936-1953
Washington & Lee
1921-1958
West Virginia
1950-1968
Western Carolina
1976-present
William & Mary
1936-1977
Wofford
1997-present
2008-09 MEDIA GUIDE
THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
The Southern Conference was formed
on February 25, 1921 at a meeting in
Atlanta, Ga., as 14 institutions from the
30-member Southern Intercollegiate
Athletic Association (SIAA) reorganized
as the Southern Conference. Those charter
members included Alabama, Auburn,
Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech,
Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi State,
North Carolina, North Carolina State,
Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and
Washington & Lee. Athletic competition
began in the fall of 1921.
In 1922, six more schools — Florida,
LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tulane
and Vanderbilt — joined the fold. A year
later, the University of the South joined
the ranks. VMI became a member in 1925
and Duke came into the fold in 1929.
Since then, conference membership has
experienced a series of membership
changes with 42 institutions having been
affiliated with the league. The league has
undergone two major transitions during
its history.
The first occurred in December 1932
when the Southeastern Conference was
formed from the 23-school Southern
Conference. The league’s 13 members
west and south of the Appalachian
Mountains reorganized to help reduce the
extensive travel demands that were present in the league at the time. In 1936, the
Southern Conference invited The Citadel,
William & Mary, Davidson, Furman,
Richmond and Wake Forest to join the
membership.
The second major shift happened in
1953 when Clemson, Duke, Maryland,
North Carolina, North Carolina State,
South Carolina and Wake Forest officially
withdrew from the league to form the
Atlantic Coast Conference. This change
was brought about due to the desire of
many of those schools to schedule a
greater number of regular-season basketball games against their local rivals.
Today, the league continues to thrive
2008-09 MEDIA GUIDE
LEADERSHIP
Furman’s Rushia Brown was the first SoCon athlete to play in
the WNBA, scoring 194 points for the Cleveland Rockers in her
second season.
with a membership that spans four states
— Tennessee, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia. Current league
members are Appalachian State, College
of Charleston, Chattanooga, The Citadel,
Davidson, Elon, Furman, Georgia
Southern, UNC Greensboro, Western
Carolina and Wofford. Elon, joined the
Southern Conference on July 1, 2003. On
July 1, 2008, Samford officially joined the
league, bringing membership of the conference to 12.
BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball competition began
in the Southern Conference in 1983-84
with seven teams. In the sport’s history,
seven schools have won the league’s tournament at least once, with Chattanooga
winning nine and Appalachian State owning six titles. UNC Greensboro won the
1998 tournament as head coach Lynne
Agee became the first coach to take a
team to the NCAA Tournament in all
three Divisions — I, II and III. In 2001,
Chattanooga head coach Wes Moore
became the first coach in NCAA history to
take three different teams to the NCAA
Tournament in all three Divisions.
Since 1984, seven different teams have
claimed at least a share of the regular-season crown. Chattanooga has the most
John Iamarino was officially
named commissioner of the conference on January 2, 2006. Previously,
Iamarino served as commissioner of
the Northeast Conference. In nine
years with the New Jersey-based
league, Iamarino promoted the conference through an ambitious agenda which improved competition,
upgraded compliance-related matters and increased the marketing
and brand awareness of the conference and its member institutions.
The Southern Conference named
its first commissioner in December
1950. Duke head football coach
Wallace Wade made the transition
from Blue Devil football coach to
athletics administration as the first
person at the helm of the conference.
Danny Morrison headed the conference from 2001-2005 and orchestrated the league’s move from
Asheville, N.C. to historic Beaumont
Mill in Spartanburg, S.C. Under
Morrison’s leadership, the conference
increased its marketing and promotional efforts.
W I L D C A T
MEMBERSHIP HISTORY
B A S K E T B A L L
overall titles with 11, five of them shared.
Chattanooga owns the most outright
championships with six. Only three players have won the conference Player of the
Year award twice: East Tennessee State’s
DeShawne Blocker in 1992-93 and 199495; Furman’s Jackie Smith, 1997-98 and
1998-99; and most recently
Chattanooga’s Damita Bullock, who
won the award in 2000 and 2001.
The SoCon will celebrate 25 years of
women's championships in 2007-08. A
year-long celebration of women's
sports will highlight student-athletes,
coaches and teams.
The Southern
Conference office is
located in the
Beaumont Mill in
Spartanburg, S.C. A
textile mill that was in
operation from 1880
until 1999, the Beaumont Mill was renovated in 2004 and today offers the SoCon
a first-class meeting area as well as a spacious library for storage of the conference’s historical documents.
63
FINAL SOCON STANDINGS/AWARD WINNERS
2007-08 FINAL STANDINGS
W I L D C A T
B A S K E T B A L L
Team
Chattanooga1 - 2 - NCAA
WNIT
Western Carolina
Davidson
Georgia Southern
College of Charleston
Elon
Furman
Appalachian State
UNC Greensboro
Wofford
Conference
W
L
Pct.
18
15
13
13
9
6
5
5
4
2
0 1.000
3 .833
5 .722
5 .722
9 .500
12 .333
13 .278
13 .278
14 .222
16 .111
W
29
25
19
17
14
12
10
8
7
10
Overall
L
Pct.
4
9
11
13
16
20
20
22
24
21
.879
.735
.633
.567
.467
.375
.333
.267
.226
.323
Home
13- 1
10- 2
10- 2
10- 2
7- 7
6- 9
6- 7
4- 9
4- 10
5- 7
Road
11- 2
10- 6
7- 7
7- 7
6- 8
4- 9
4- 11
4- 10
4- 10
5- 7
Regular season and 2SoCon Tournament champions
1
Neutral
5- 1
5- 1
2- 2
0- 4
1- 1
2- 2
0- 2
0- 3
1- 2
2- 1
PPG
69.6
74.1
65.0
61.4
57.3
59.6
60.7
62.9
53.1
61.0
Opp
56.5
66.9
62.3
61.6
58.8
60.3
65.8
72.0
64.3
67.7
L5
4- 1
2- 3
3- 2
1- 4
2- 3
4- 1
2- 3
2- 3
2- 3
1- 4
Streak
L1
L1
L1
L1
L1
L1
L1
L3
L1
L1
2007-08 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
MEDIA
Player of the Year
Alex Anderson
Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year
Mahagony Williams
Wofford
Coach of the Year
Wes Moore
Chattanooga
ALL-SOCON FIRST TEAM
Alex Anderson
Chattanooga
Tierra Bumbrey
Elon
Chevon Keith
Western Carolina
Mercedes Robinson
Davidson
Whitney Tossie Appalachian State
ALL-SOCON SECOND TEAM
Shawnda Atwood
Ga. Southern
Tiffany Brown
Ga. Southern
Monique Dawson
W. Carolina
Jill Furstenburg Coll. of Charleston
Shanara Hollinquest Chattanooga
ALL-SOCON FRESHMAN TEAM
Emily Clarke
Western Carolina
Tonia Gerty
College of Charleston
Frances Hernandez
App. State
Sam Ramirez
Appalachian State
Mahagony Williams
Wofford
64
COACHES
Player of the Year
Alex Anderson
Chattanooga
Defensive Player of the Year
Chevon Keith
Western Carolina
Coach of the Year
Wes Moore
Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year
Mahagony Williams
Wofford
Ann Lashley Inspiration Award
Kitara McMoore
Elon
ALL-CONFERENCE
Whitney Tossie
Appalachian State
Alex Anderson
Chattanooga
Brooke Hand
Chattanooga
Shanara Hollinquest
Chattanooga
Mercedes Robinson
Davidson
Tierra Bumbrey
Elon
Shawnda Atwood
Georgia Southern
Tiffany Brown
Georgia Southern
Monique Dawson
Western Carolina
Chevon Keith
Western Carolina
ALL-FRESHMAN
Sam Ramirez
Appalachian State
Tonia Gerty
College of Charleston
Monique Floyd
UNC Greensboro
Emily Clarke
Western Carolina
Mahagony Williams
Wofford
2008-09 MEDIA GUIDE
FINAL SOCON STANDINGS/STATISTICS
Alex Anderson
Whitney Tossie
Mercedes Robinson
Tierra Bumbrey
Liz Miller
Shanara Hollinquest
Jill Furstenburg
Tiffany Brown
Gigi Thomas
Kitara McMoore
Team
Chattanooga
Appalachian State
Davidson
Elon
Wofford
Chattanooga
College of Charleston
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Elon
G
33
30
29
32
31
33
30
24
30
32
FG
225
151
134
155
108
149
124
99
138
137
3G
5
7
20
68
36
0
31
33
8
0
FT
115
90
79
25
109
86
66
44
50
73
Pts
570
399
367
403
361
384
345
275
334
347
Avg
17.3
13.3
12.7
12.6
11.6
11.6
11.5
11.5
11.1
10.8
Alex Thompson saw her named scattered all over the
SoCon league-leader board. She led the conference
in 3-pt. percentage, free throw percentage and assists
per game during a solid sophomore season.
2007-08 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS (TOP-5)
Rebounds
Player
Anderson
Keith
Robinson
McMoore
Williams
Like her fellow teammate Alex Thompson, Mercedes
Robinson also found her name among the league's top-five
in several offensive categories, including ranking third in
points and rebounds per game, and field goal percentage.
Assists
Player
Thompson
Hall
Phelps
Miller
Bumbrey
Steals
Player
Miller
Tossie
Bumbrey
Davis
Dwyer
Blocks
Player
Williams
Anderson
Smith
Dwyer
Johnson
Field Goal Percentage
Player
Team
FG FGA
Hollinquest UTC
149 256
McMoore ELON
137 261
Robinson DAV
134 259
Anderson UTC
225 438
Williams
WOF
107 213
Pct.
.582
.525
.517
.514
.502
Avg
3.97
3.91
3.70
3.45
3.38
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage
Player
Team
3G 3GA Pct.
Thompson DAV
41
96 .427
Lebschwagr FUR
36
86 .419
Hall
UTC
35
86 .407
Bumbrey
ELON
68 173 .393
Stephens
FUR
40 102 .392
Steals
97
91
91
74
58
Avg
3.13
3.03
2.84
2.31
2.15
Free Throw Percentage
Player
Team
FT FTA
Thompson DAV
67
77
Stephens
FUR
72
83
Furstenburg CofC
66
81
Tossie
ASU
90 116
Johnson
FUR
63
82
Pct.
.870
.867
.815
.776
.768
Blocks
65
61
53
42
34
Avg
2.10
1.85
1.77
1.56
1.31
Team
UTC
WCU
DAV
ELON
CofC
Reb
288
294
243
243
207
Avg
8.7
8.6
8.4
7.6
6.9
Team
DAV
UTC
FUR
WOF
ELON
Asst
119
125
111
107
108
Team
WOF
ASU
ELON
ELON
WOF
Team
WOF
UTC
CofC
WOF
FUR
Assist-Turnover Ratio
Player
Team
A
Whitney
GSU
91
Hall
UTC
125
Thompson DAV
119
Phelps
FUR
111
Bumbrey
ELON
108
TO Avg
54 1.69
75 1.67
92 1.29
90 1.23
114 0.95
B A S K E T B A L L
Player
W I L D C A T
Scoring
2007-08 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICAL LEADERS
Danielle Hemerka ranked just outside the top-five in
rebounds per game (9th) and field goal percentage (9th),
while ranking 14th overall in scoring average at 9.4.
2008-09 MEDIA GUIDE
65
SOCON TOURNAMENT HISTORY
DAVIDSON IN THE SOCON TOURNAMENT
L Elon
t-3rd (19-11, 13-5)
2007
Quarters W Wofford
Semis L Chattanooga
49- 68
t-2nd (23-9, 13-5)
71- 62
68- 80
2006
2nd (17-12, 12-6)
Quarters W Elon
55- 53
Semis L UNC Greensboro
58- 69
2005
2nd (18-11, 14-6)
Quarters W Coll. of Charleston 68- 48
Semis L Western Carolina
58- 59
2004
Quarters
Jessica Heath connected on this buzzer
beater in the semifinals of the 1999
SoCon Tournament to propel Davidson
to its only title game appearance.
Tied for 3rd (16-12, 13-7)
L Western Carolina
58- 66
2003
Tied for 6th (15-15, 8-10)
1st Rnd W Wofford
72- 70
Quarters W Western Carolina
62- 58
Semis L Georgia Southern
57- 62
2002
1st Rnd
2001
1st Rnd
8th (10-18, 6-12)
L Appalachian State
63- 64
L Wofford
62- 76
9th (9-19, 4-14)
2000
7th (10-17, 8-10)
1st Rnd W Coll. of Charleston 71- 51
Quarters L Furman
56- 73
1999
4th (18-10, 11-7)
Quarters W Furman
62- 56
Semis W UNC Greensboro
92- 91
Finals L Appalachian State 69- 78
1998
Tied for 2nd (18-9, 12-4)
Quarters W Appalachian State 79- 63
Semis L UNC Greensboro
75- 78
1997
Quarters
L Georgia Southern
1995
Quarters
L East Tennessee St.
70- 88
L Georgia Southern
62- 71
5th (15-11, 7-7)
71- 73
1996
4th (14-12, 7-7)
Quarters W Chattanooga
80- 51
Semis L Appalachian State 74- 83
1994
Quarters
All-Time
8th (4-23, 0-14)
8th (5-21, 0-7)
10-15 in 15 appearances
0-1 in championship games
2008-09 SOCON TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Thursday,
March 5
W I L D C A T
B A S K E T B A L L
2008
Quarters
Friday & Saturday
March 6-7
Sunday,
March 8
Monday,
March 9
GENERAL INFORMATION
Tourn. Location . . . . .Chattanooga, Tenn.
Date of Tournament . . . .March 4-9, 2009
Arena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .McKenzie Arena
Web address . . . . . . . . .SoConSports.com
2008 Champion . . . . . . . . . . .Chattanooga
66
2008-09 MEDIA GUIDE