June 19, 2008
Southern Conference Recognizes Former WCU Student-Athletes on Women's 25th Anniversary Teams
Spartanburg, S.C. - The 2007-08 academic year marks the 25th anniversary of women's championships in the Southern Conference, and to celebrate the occasion, the league is spotlighting individuals who have been named to the league's 25th Anniversary teams.
Ashley Hovda (2001-2005) of Western Carolina won many awards as a student-athlete competing with the Western Carolina women's golf team. Hovda was a three-time SoCon women's golfer of the month, two-time All-SoCon and earned National Golf Coaches Association All-American scholar twice.
Hovda finished her career with 14 top 10 finishes which included three individual medalist honors.
As a senior, she set the single season scoring record at Western Carolina averaging 74.86 over 26 rounds. Hodva continues to rank fifth on Western Carolina's all-time career scoring chart with a four-year average of 77.38.
The following Western Carolina student-athletes join Hovda on the Southern Conference's 25th Anniversary Teams:
Jennifer Gardner (2001-05), Basketball - A two-time All-Southern Conference selection for the Lady Catamount basketball team ... Concluded her career ranked eighth on the all-time scoring chart (1,362 points) and seventh on the rebounding charts (890 rebounds) ... Also holds the school record for free throws with 444 made FTs in her four-year career ...Was a six-time SoCon Player of the Week, the most by any Lady Catamount ... Scored 45 points - the second-most single-game points in school history - in Western's thrilling double-overtime victory over Georgia Southern in the 2005 SoCon Women's Basketball Championship final, earning her All-SoCon tournament and Tourney MVP accolades, the only player in WCU history to accomplish the feat.
Regina Brown (1987-90), Volleyball - Western's only Southern Conference Player of the Year after helping the Catamounts to a 22-11 record in the 1990 season ... Brown was a two-time All-SoCon selection in 1989 and '90 and a three-time all-tournament team selection in 1988, '89 and '90 ... Posted WCU's best single-season in terms of blocks with 159 in 1990 and also ranks second on the single-season kill chart with 627 that same season ... On the career lists, Brown ranks second in kills (1,590), third in total blocks (361) and tied for the best career hitting percentage (.305). Also played basketball for the Lady Catamounts for one season after completing her volleyball career and started in all 28 games. She led the team in rebounding with the sixth most rebounds in WCU history and averaged 9.8 points per game and was named to the 1992 All-Southern Conference Tournament Team. Inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
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Devondia Ross (1991-94), Outdoor Track & Field - One of the most decorated athletes in Western Carolina history, earning a total of 16 All-SoCon honors and owns the distinction of being the Catamounts' first female Division I All-American. She earned her All-America honor finishing ninth in the long jump at the 1991 NCAA Championships with a leap of 20 feet 5.25 inches, which led to an invitation to the 1992 Olympic trials in New Orleans. Better known as "Von" by most, finished third among collegiate jumpers at the 1991 USA/Mobil National Championship and fourth at the 1991 Olympic Festival in Los Angeles. After a disappointing indoor season in 1991, exploded on the scene by being named 1991 SoCon's Outdoor Most Outstanding Performer, winning the long jump and 100 meters while placing third in the 200 meters and being on the second-place 4x100 meter relay team. In 1992, was the SoCon indoor champion in the long jump and 4x400 meter relay. In 1993, was champion at the SoCon Indoors for the long jump as she set, and still owns, the SoCon Indoor record with a leap of 20 feet 4.25 inches. During the 1993 outdoor season, was the first woman in WCU history to break the 12-second barrier in the 100 meters. Still owns WCU records in the indoor and outdoor long jump, as well as the indoor triple jump. Inducted into Western's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ashley Adams (2005-06), Softball - Set a WCU and Southern Conference record with 21 home runs during Western Carolina's inaugural season of softball back in 2006 ... her 61 RBI also led the league in '05 and ranked second all-time in conference history ... In addition to earning All-Southern Conference first team accolades, she also was named to the Louisville Slugger / National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I Southeastern All-Region team and to the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA) All-State team ... a transfer from Walters State, Adams was injured at the beginning of her senior season preventing her from adding to her record totals.
Susie Gardner-Mayhorn (1989-93), Cross Country - Is one of the most decorated student-athletes in Western Carolina history. A three-time Academic All-America, picking up first team honors in 1992 and `93, the Marietta, Ga., native was additionally tabbed North Carolina's 1993 NCAA Woman of the Year and won the Southern Conference's 1993 Dorothy Hix Postgraduate Scholarship. Also in 1993, she graduated summa cum laude (3.92 grade point average) with a degree in psychology to earn the WCU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award and she received the fourth of her four SoCon All-Academic Team honors. In cross country, Gardner-Mayhorn earned All-SoCon honors in 1991, becoming the first Catamount female to earn the honor thanks to a fourth place finish in 1991. She was the cross country team MVP in 1990, `91 and `92, finished first eight times in her career and set WCU course records for all distances. She was additionally an 18-time All-SoCon honoree in indoor track (four times each in 800 meters, 1,600 meters, 4x800 relay and high jump and twice in the 4x400 relay), earning indoor team MVP honors once. In outdoor track, Gardner-Mayhorn earned All-SoCon honors 12 times, including four times each in the 800 meters, high jump and 4x400 relay. She added SoCon individual championships in the high jump (1992) and 800 meters (1991 and `92) during the outdoor season. In addition to her numerous conference honors, she holds the distinction of being the first SoCon female athlete to break the five-minute mark in the mile and set 18 Western Carolina records over her career. Inducted into the WCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.
Kristin Cotton (2002-05), Tennis - Finished her four-year career with 32 singles victories and a combined 30 doubles wins to lead all Western Carolina women's tennis players.
