ETSU Haynes-Overton repeats as Defensive Player of the Year

Posted: Mar 5, 2019 / 09:16 PM EST

Updated: Mar 5, 2019 / 09:16 PM EST

The Southern Conference announced its postseason awards on Tuesday afternoon, as three Buccaneers were recognized, including two by the SoCon coaches.

Sophomore Erica Haynes-Overton (Nashville, Tenn.) and freshman Kaia Upton (Nashville, Tenn.) were both recognized by the SoCon coaches, while redshirt sophomore Micah Scheetz (Knoxville, Tenn.) was honored by the SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA).

Haynes-Overton repeated as Defensive Player of the Year and is the first ETSU player to do so since rejoining the SoCon in 2014. Chattanooga’s Alicia Payne (2014-15, 2015-16) was the last to win the award in back-to-back seasons. The sophomore has led the conference all year in steals, averaging 3.2 per game, while also earning a spot on the SoCon All-Defensive Team. She currently ranks seventh nationally in steals (95) and 12^th nationally in steals per game. Haynes-Overton also ranks third on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.7 rebounds per game.

Haynes-Overton is joined by Furman’s Kaitlyn Duncan, Mercer’s Shannon Titus, Chattanooga’s Arianne Whitaker, and Wofford’s Cairo Booker to the All-Defensive Team.

Haynes-Overton was also named to the All-SoCon First Team by the coaches and earned a spot on the second team as voted by the media. She has led ETSU in scoring throughout the season, currently averaging 16.9 points per game and 18 points per game against SoCon opponents. She has scored in double figures in all but three games, scoring 30 points or more twice this season. Earlier in the year, she recorded a career-high 35 points against Appalachian State on Nov. 29, ranking third in ETSU program history for the most points in a single game. Haynes-Overton earned back-to-back SoCon Player of the Week awards and has been named the SoCon College Sports Madness Player of the Week twice this season.

This is the second straight year that ETSU has had a player named to the All-Freshman Team. Haynes-Overton was last year’s selection and former high school teammate Kaia Upton is this year’s honoree. Upton was named to the All-Freshman Team by both the coaches and the media. The freshman has played in all 30 games for the Bucs, while starting in 25. She currently averages 5.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game. Upton is second on the team in assists and has had six double-digit performances.

Joining the Bucs in the postseason awards is Micah Scheetz, who was named to the All-SoCon Third Team by the media. The redshirt sophomore has been an immediate impact to ETSU’s squad after sitting out last season due to the transfer rule. Scheetz ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game. She has scored in double figures in nine of the 14 SoCon games, including scoring in double figures in the last three games. The Knoxville native is ETSU’s most prominent three-pointer shooter, banking 35 triples to hold a .380 three-point field goal percentage.

The 2019 Ingles Southern Conference Women’s Basketball Championship presented by General Shale begins Thursday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C. Semifinal action is set for Friday and the tournament will culminate on Sunday at 12 p.m. with the women’s championship game. All women’s contests will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Coaches

Player of the Year

Amanda Thompson, Sr., F, Mercer

Freshman of the Year

Eboni Williams, F, Chattanooga

Defensive Player of the Year

Erica Haynes-Overton So., G, ETSU

Coach of the Year

Susie Gardner, Mercer

Ann Lashley Inspiration Award Winner

Amanda Thompson, Sr., F, Mercer

First team