Kennesaw State University Athletics

KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State's Sametria Gideon and Brandi Jones have both been named to the Atlantic Sun Conference's All-Freshman Team for the 2009-10 women's basketball season.  The award was announced by the A-Sun office Tuesday afternoon.

"This award is befitting to our excellent freshman players on our team," said KSU head coach Colby Tilley.  "For them to receive this award from the coaches and sports information directors of this conference shows the respect that they've gained as freshmen and is a true bright spot for the future of our program."

Gideon has been impressive in her debut season with the Lady Owls, becoming the A-Sun's top freshman rebounder with an average of 8.1 rebounds per game.  Gideon, who ranks fourth among all players in rebounds per game, was the conference's leader in offensive rebounds in A-Sun games, averaging 4.35 for the season.  Gideon finished ranked 23rd in the A-Sun in scoring in A-Sun games, and was the third-ranked freshman scorer in the A-Sun at 9.4 points per conference contest.

Jones was the only freshman in the conference to earn A-Sun Player of the Week honors, with the award coming after Jones led the Lady Owls in scoring in consecutive one-point wins over Mercer and USC Upstate.  Jones finished the A-Sun season ranked 29th in scoring in A-Sun games at 9.1 points per contest.  She connected 23 times from beyond the arc in A-Sun games, good for second among all freshmen.  She set her season-high in scoring with 19 in KSU's one-point win at home against the Spartans.

"We felt like when Sametria and Brandi signed to play for us, they would be two important pieces of the puzzle to take our team to the next level.  They certainly haven't disappointed us," Coach Tilley said.

Gideon, Jones, and the rest of the Lady Owls are in full preparations for the 2010 General Shale Brick Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Basketball Championship.  KSU plays its first game this Thursday at noon against Belmont at the University Center in Macon, Ga.