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Benningfield and Thomas Receive AP All-SEC Honors 3-10-04 3/10/2004 Fresh off their title at the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Vanderbilt forwards Jenni Benningfield and Carla Thomas have been named to the All-SEC second and third-teams, respectively, by the Associated Press. The selection for Benningfield marks the second year in a row that the Louisville, Ky., native has reaped second-team honors while Thomas adds a third-team selection to a rookie resume that already includes a unanimous All-Freshman nod by the league’s coaches. Benningfield, a preseason nominee for the prestigious Wade Trophy as well as the Naismith and Wooden Player of the Year Awards, shot a team-high 54.8% from the floor in averaging 13.5 ppg during the four-game title run through the SEC Tournament. Much as she has been forced to do this season in coping with a stress fracture in her right foot, the Louisville, Ky., native had to battle adversity throughout the four-game stretch after contracting a case of the flu during the tourney. The senior forward posted 18 points in the 76-74 win over #19/22 Auburn and followed that performance up with a 20-point, seven-rebound effort in the 78-66 triumph over #15/14 LSU. Over that two-game span, she shot at a .739 clip on an incredible 17-of-23 from the floor. Freshman sensation Carla Thomas continued her inspired play by being named as the SEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player for her 14.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg effort during the four-game run. The occurrence marked the first time a rookie had been chosen as the league’s tournament MVP since former Mississippi State All-America LaToya Thomas garnered the award in 2000. In the championship matchup against #20/16 Georgia, the Mechanicsburg, Pa., native tallied a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds as the rookie helped the Black and Gold rally back from an 18-point second-half deficit to claim Vanderbilt’s fourth SEC Tournament title, 62-56. The pair now awaits this Sunday’s NCAA Selection Show to find out where they and their teammates will travel to open NCAA Tournament play. The ESPN broadcast is slated for 4:00 p.m. AP SEC First Team AP SEC Second Team AP SEC Third Team Coach of the Year: (tie) Carol Ross, Ole Miss; Pat Summitt, Tennessee |
