TSU gets two on All-Freshmen team
Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 8, 2001
ORLANDO, Fla. – Jennifer McInnis and Thea Herring were named to the Trans America Athletic Conference women’s basketball All-Freshman team as announced today.
"I am really proud of those two girls," said Troy State head coach Jerry Hester. "They have both played really well this year for us. It is tough to make the transition from high school to Division I basketball and they have stepped up and made a lot of plays for us this year."
McInnis, a native of Maryville, Tenn., is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 10.8 points per game. She scored a season-high 23 points in Troy State’s 71-65 upset of conference regular season champ Campbell this past Saturday. She was also named TAAC "Player of the Week" for her efforts.
McInnis is 12th in the conference in scoring and is also 12th in field goal percentage at .407. She is also seventh in the conference in three-pointers per game, with an average of 1.4.
"Jennifer has had a great freshman season," according to Hester. "She’s been able to knock down the outside shot when we’ve needed it and can take people off the dribble. Her defense has really improved as the season has gone along and is one of our best defenders."
Herring, a native of Bainbridge, Geo., averaged 9.7 points per game as a freshman, while pulling down an average of 6.2 rebounds. She was the first TAAC "Player of the Week" after scoring 23 points and pulling down seven rebounds in the season opener against Centenary. She also had a team-high two double-doubles during the year.
Herring ranks 11th in the conference in rebounding and is fourth in the conference in blocks, averaging 1.3 a game. She is ninth in the conference in defensive rebounds, averaging 4.2.
"Thea has become a force in the post," said Hester. "Her height and quickness allows her to beat the other post players back up the floor. Her defense has really come on late as she has been blocking some shots and forcing other teams to rethink bringing the ball in the lane."
Adrienne Billings of UCF, Giovanni Price of Samford and Crystal Clary of Campbell were also named to the All-Freshman team. Clary was named Freshman of the Year.
The number five seeded Lady Trojans face off against number four seed Jacksonville in the first-round of the TAAC Tournament in Orlando on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 9:15 p.m.