Tusculum’s Gunn, Carson-Newman’s Buford Named To DII Bulletin All-America Team

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- Tusculum College junior Jasmine Gunn has been named to the 2010 Women's Division II Bulletin All-America First Team, while Carson-Newman College's Shari Buford was named to the Third Team. Newberry College's Anita Bulcher and Mars Hill College's Brittini Young were named Honorable Mention, while Newberry's Amy Browne was named All-Freshman.

Gunn was named First Team All-American for the first time in her career after leading the Pioneer women's basketball team to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Carson-

Gunn has received numerous individual accolades this season, including Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year and South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors while being named to the WBCA/State Farm Coaches' All-America Team. The 4-11 guard was also named the Most Valuable Player of both the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Tournament and the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament.

Jasmine Gunn

Shari Buford

Anita Bulcher

Brittini Young

Amy Browne

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Gunn posted a tremendous season for Tusculum, leading the Pioneers to their third straight 20-win season and the program's first NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship. The two-time WBCA All-American is one of two players in the NCAA to rank in the top 35 in scoring, assists and steals in her respective division, entering last week's Elite Eight ranked seventh in the nation in scoring (21.8), 23rd in steals (2.9), and 32nd in assists (4.9).

The Antioch HS graduate scored 20 points or more on 19 occasions this season, recording five 30-point performances and one 40-marker night, while notching four double-doubles and the program's first triple-double in recorded history. Gunn also established a program- and SAC-record with 216 free throws made this season, going a perfect 8-for-8 at the charity stripe in the Southeast Region Championship game against Lander to eclipse the previous conference mark.

Gunn put her talents on display during Tusculum's magical postseason run, averaging 26.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in the seven-game span to finish the season with 713 markers, which is the third-highest single-season total in program history. The 2010 Daktronics Southeast Region Player of the Year turned in one of the most impressive performances of her career on Mar. 13 against No. 20 Francis Marion, pouring in a South Atlantic Conference-record 45 points on 11-of-15 shooting while setting a pair of NCAA Tournament marks with 23 free throws made and 29 attempts at the charity stripe.

The 2010 SAC Player of the Year jumped nine spots on the program's all-time scoring list this season, currently sitting fifth in school history with 1,619 career points through 95 games. The three-time All-SAC performer also dished out 158 assists this season to climb into third in program history, and sixth on the SAC's all-time list with 528 career helpers. Gunn is currently ranked in the top 10 in nine categories in the program record book, including assists per game (1st/5.6), free throws made (3rd/492), free throws attempted (3rd/625), and steals (3rd/220).

Tusculum is expected to return four of their top five scorers from this season's Southeast Region Championship squad, including Gunn, the reigning SAC Player of the Year. The Pioneers closed out the season winning 14 of their last 17, including the program's first-ever Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament title and first-ever NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship.

Buford is the first Lady Eagle All-American under ninth-year Head Coach Dean Walsh.

The Hampton, Ga., native was also chosen as an Honorable Mention All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association.

Buford was a 2010 Daktronics First-Team All-Southeast Region pick and averaged 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game this season. She also tallied 90 blocks on the year, good for 2.9 per outing.

The Hampton, Ga., native became the first ever player to record 1000 points, 1000 rebounds and 200 blocks for her career at Carson-Newman. Buford was also selected to the 2009-10 All-South Atlantic Conference First Team for her efforts.

The Lady Eagles tallied a 24-7 overall record with an 11-5 mark in SAC play. C-N reached the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second straight year and the third time in four seasons where it advanced to the round of 32, defeating Lenior-Rhyne, 79-72, in the first round.

Bulcher (Russia, Ohio) played a pivotal role in the success of the Newberry College women's basketball team over the 2009-10 season. She ended the season as Newberry's leader in points, rebounds, blocks and field-goal percentage.

She was the nation's sixth best rebounder with 11.7 rebounds per game after spending several weeks as number one. Her 16.3 points per game ranked her as the sixth best scorer in the South Atlantic Conference and she had the second best field-goal percentage in the SAC at .556 (174-313). Bulcher also saw success at the free-throw line with a .741 percentage.

This is Bulcher's second All-American Honorable Mention achievement as she was previously named a Division II State Farm Coaches' Honorable Mention All-American. These honors serve to further her already impressive list of regional and national accolades. Bulcher was also named a DAKTRONICS All-Southeast Region first teamer. Her performances were well recognized across the conference as she was honored as the SAC Player of the Week three times and ultimately named first team all-SAC.

Browne (Maroochydore, Australia) shined in her first year on the court for the scarlet and gray. Browne started every game for Newberry and saw more playing time than any other player. She ended her freshman campaign as Newberry's third leading scorer, putting up 327 points on the year and averaging 10.9 points per game. She posted the second highest three-point field goal percentage in the South Atlantic Conference at .403 (30-73). Browne was named the SAC Freshman of the Year as well this season.

"Amy really worked hard and made an immediate impact on the floor," said head coach Sean Page. "I have no doubt that she will continue to grow and improve as a player as her career develops."

Young, from Ramseur, N.C., led the South Atlantic Conference last season in scoring at 22.0 points per game. She also ranked in the top 10 of the conference in assists, free throw percentage, steals, three-point field goal percentage, three-point field goals made and minutes played.

In 2009-10, Young broke three Mars Hill records and tied another. She set the records for highest scoring average in a season (22.0 ppg), most free throws made in a season (173) and most three-point field goals attempted in a game (11 vs. Vorhees and vs. Tusculum). She also twice tied the record for best free throw percentage (100%, min. nine attempts) in a game.

Young was selected to the 2009-10 SAC All-Conference Second Team earlier this month. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team last month. Young was a member of the District III Second Team.

The Division II Bulletin and Women's Division II Bulletin have been a leading authority on small college basketball since 1991. Women's Division II Bulletin has been published since 1993 and has served as the leading publication covering Division II women's basketball. The publication's Postseason Review awards a national Coach and Player of Year as well as the All-America Team and All-Freshman Team.

2010 Division II Bulletin All-Americans
First Team
Johannah Leedham Franklin Pierce Senior Center *
Lauren Beckley Shippensburg Senior Forward
Jasmine Gunn Tusculum Junior Guard
Katie Wysocky Michigan Tech Senior Forward
Cassondra Boston Emporia State Senior Guard
* Player of the Year
Second Team
Samantha Meissel Indianapolis Junior Forward
Kristina Freeman Gannon Senior Guard
Veronica Walker Delta State Soph. Center
Jheri Booker Minn. Duluth Senior Forward
Phebe Smith Columbus State Senior Forward
Third Team
Donita Adams Glenville St. Senior Center
Shari Buford Carson Newman Senior Forward
Amelia Simmons Wilmington Senior Forward
Mariesa Greene Barry Senior Forward
Daesha Henderson Seattle Pacific Senior Guard
Fourth Team
Brooque Williams California (Pa.)Senior Guard
Esty Flores Barton Senior Guard
Allison Rosel Fort Lewis Senior Forward
Chelsea Carlisle UC San Diego Soph. Guard
Jenny Vining Arkansas Tech Junior Guard

Honorable Mention
Samantha Murphy Grand Canyon Jr.
Kelsey Simonds Stonehill Sr.
Takesha Riggs Ft. Valley St. Sr.
Kim Brennan Bentley Jr.
Janea Aiken C.W. Post Jr.
Nia Torru Incarnate Word Sr.
Lillian McGill Dist. of Columbia Jr.
Tammy Acosta TX Perm. Basin So.
Lindsay Ballweg Drury Sr.
Tori Hansen West Liberty Jr.
Catherine Carr Holy Family Jr.
Kayla Smith California Jr.
Anita Bulcher Newberry Sr.
Jessica Summers W. Washingon Sr.
Jineen Williams Concordia Jr.
Kirsty Leedham Caldwell Jr.
Dayna Rodriguez Washburn Sr.
Jasmine Webb NE State Jr.
Sarita Cooper Delta St. Jr.
Jodi Ostergren Northwood Sr.
Shannon McKever Lander Jr.
Vera Jo Bustos Adams St. Jr.
Joni Unruh WTAM Jr.
Samantha Reimer Edinboro Sr.
Reyana Colson Cal Poly Jr.
Shannon Singleton-Bates, FMU Jr.
Jamie Simmons WTAM So.
Brittini Young Mars Hills Jr.
Jessica Romano Philadelphia Sr.
Ashley Arlen Wayne St. So.
Jessica Canary Indianapolis Sr.
Jamie Meyer Abilene Chris. Sr.
Brittany Tabron Gannon Sr.
Amanda Dunbar W. Washington Jr.

All-Freshman
Amy Brown Newberry
Jalissa Chatlos Bellarmine
Jessica Weatherford Arkansas Tech
Alex Stelfox Grand Valley State
Kira Harvey Lynn
Alex Feeney Augustana
Sarah Pastorek Indiana (Pa.)
Talaya Lynch Chowan
Lauren Lecchesi Cal State East Bay
Janyce Ealey North Georgia