March 25, 2008

SALISBURY, N.C. - Ten student-athletes, representing eight institutions, make up the fourth annual North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) College Division All-State women's basketball teams released Monday.

Elizabeth City State University senior Celeste Trahan headlines the team as the first four-time all-state women's basketball selection and joins Meredith College's Nicole Hall the lone repeat honorees in 2007-08. Meredith and fellow USA South Athletic Conference member Greensboro College both had two students honored.

The squads consist of student-athletes from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA colleges and universities throughout the state. North Carolina sports information professionals submitted nominees and NCCSIA members selected the teams. The all-state basketball units consist of the top 10 vote-getters and include students involved in ties.

Founded in 2002, NCCSIA is comprised of sports information professionals from North Carolina's NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA and independent institutions for the purpose of promoting college athletics in the state. Membership is open to anyone affiliated with a college, university or conference located in North Carolina whose responsibilities include sports information.

Trahan, a two-time Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year, became the first woman in NCAA Division II history to post 2,000 points and 1,500 rebounds in a career. She has led Division II in rebounding three times, pulling down nation-best 15.9 boards a game this season. Trahan also ranks second in the country in scoring with 23.7 points per contest through games of March 16.

Hall, last year's Division III Association of Independents Player of the Year, ranked fourth in the nation as of March 16 with 6.9 assists per game. She added 18.5 points and 6.1 rebounds a contest and finished second on Meredith's all-time scoring list with 1,691 career points.

Anna Atkinson earned South Atlantic Conference (SAC) Player of the Year honors and helped Wingate University a spot in this Wednesday's (3/26) Division II national quarterfinals. The three-time All-SAC performer averages 14.8 points and 8.4 assists per game this season. The junior was also a Daktronics All-South Atlantic Region performer.

Dione Eccles was named the USA South Athletic Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player as she helped Greensboro to both the regular-season and tournament titles. The First Team All-USA South performer averaged 20.2 points and 6.6 rebounds a game after transferring from Catawba College in January. She tallied a league-record 54 points in a tournament semifinal win over Ferrum College.

Lakeisha Monroe, who rounds out the first team, helped Mount Olive College to its first 20-win season in school history. The senior was named the Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Valuable Player as the Trojans knocked off 12th-ranked Anderson College in the final. The first-team all-league selection led the conference in scoring with 17.1 points a game and added 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per outing.

The second team consists of Meredith's Brittany Cornelius, Greensboro freshman Danielle Duncan, NeKeithia Howard, of Catawba College, Marie Marquez, of Belmont Abbey College, and St. Andrews Presbyterian College senior Danielle Norman.