Phebe Smith Named PBC Player of the Year; Sean Miller Named to All-PBC Squad

Augusta, GA - The Peach Belt Conference released its All-Conference basketball teams for men and women on Tuesday and a pair of Columbus State players appeared among the honorees. Lady Cougar Phebe Smith was named PBC Player of the Year on the women's side, as well as earning a spot on the First Team All-PBC squad, while men's player Sean Miller capped off a four-year career by earning Third-Team All-PBC honors.   Smith, a junior from Atlanta, becomes the first CSU player to earn Player of the Year honors since Kinesha Harden was named Co-Player of the Year in 2001. She is the first player to lead the PBC in both scoring and rebounding in 17 years as she finished the regular season averaging 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. She set single-season records at CSU in both scoring and rebounding, heading into tournament play with 563 points scored and 331 rebounds. Her rebounding total is tied as the seventh highest in PBC history. She led the conference with 18 double-doubles this season and is currently tied with CSU Hall of Fame Player Que Gilliam for most field goals made in a season.   She was joined on the first team by Morgan Johnson of USC Aiken, Syretha Marble of North Georgia, Kevina Ransom and Shannon SIngleton-Bates of Francis Marion, and Lacey Willis of Armstrong Atlantic State. Ciara Lyons of Lander was named Freshman of the Year, while Heather Macy of Francis Marion picked up Coach of the Year honors.   Miller, who became the all-time leader in career games played on Saturday, put together a solid senior season, leading the Cougars in scoring. He enters tournament play averaging 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and leads the team with 62 made three-pointers. He earned PBC Player of the Week honors twice late in the season, as well.   USC Aiken's Chris Commons was named Player of the Year, while Georgia Southwestern's Evan Mobley was tabbed as Freshman of the Year. Georgia College & State University's Terry Sellers earned Coach of the Year honors.   Both CSU teams begin play at the PBC Tournament on Wednesday in Aiken, SC. The women, seeded #7, face 10th-seeded Lander at 3:00 PM. The men, seeded ninth, face #8 Lander at 5:00 PM at the USC Aiken Convocation Center. Both games can be heard on Newsradio 540 AM, and live video is available at PeachBeltSports.tv for all tournament games. Live statistics feeds of each game will also be available at peachbelt.com.   Click Here for Full PBC Women's Release Click Here for Full PBC Men's Release