March 4, 2004

Brentwood, Tenn. - Junior guard Sami Jo Cotton from Crowder, Okla. has put together an outstanding season on the court during her first year of Division I competition. Announced by the league office last evening, March 4, on the eve of the OVC tournament semifinals, Cotton was named OVC Newcomer of the Year, along with bringing home All-OVC second team honors.

It was no surprise that Cotton brought home OVC Newcomer of the Year honors after claiming the OVC Newcomer of the Week award five-of-twelve weeks throughout the regular season slate. Bringing home the award for the fifth time on Mon., Feb. 16, Cotton became the winningest OVC Newcomer of the Week recipient in league history. She also set a new league record, claiming the award for three weeks running. Trailing Cotton in contention for the award was teammate Chandra Brown who brought the award home to Cape Girardeau four times this season, as the two combined to claim the award nine-of twelve weeks awarded.

Cotton also earned All-OVC second team honors after tying with last season's OVC Newcomer of the Year, Kenja White, to lead the Otahks with 11 points per outing. She also brought down 89 rebounds, dished out 35 assists and made 29 steals over the regular season. However, Cotton's specialty is from long range as she has now netted 67 three-pointers in just one season, ranking sixth in career three-pointers at Southeast. Her treys also rank her second all-time in the season record books, as she is just one away from tying the season record set by Julie Meier during the 1993-94 season.

Over the season she averaged 2.4 treys per contest, ranking third in the league, while netting a team-best 37.2 percent, which ranks her fourth in the league and 38th in the nation.

Joining Cotton on the All-OVC second team was Morehead State's Kandi Brown, Eastern Illinois's Pam O'Conner, Murray State's Megan Fuqua and Martin's Julie Young. Claiming OVC first team honors were Peay's Gerlonda Hardin and Ashley Haynes, Jax State's Shanika Freeman, Tennessee Tech's Emily Christian and Eastern Kentucky's Katie Kelly.

Headlining the All-Freshman team was Morehead's Megen Gearhart, Samford's Alex Munday, TTU's Kendall Cavin, UTM's Andreika Jackson, JSU's Courtney Slaughter and EIU's Megan Casad.

APSU's Gerlonda Hardin also claimed the league's top honor, OVC Player of the Year, while her coach, Andy Blackston, was named OVC Coach of the Year. While Munday rounded out the awards, claiming OVC Freshman of the Year acclaims.

Southeast will return to action against Austin Peay in the semifinals of the OVC tournament, tomorrow, March 5, in Nashville, Tenn. Tip-off is set for noon in the Municipal Stadium.