NEW ORLEANS - For the second-straight season, University of South Alabama senior women's basketball player Shakira Nettles was named to the Sun Belt Conference's all-conference team, as announced by the league office.  The all-conference team is voted on by the Sun Belt's 13 head coaches and a media member from each school.

Nettles - a second team selection as a junior - was named to the third team on Tuesday after averaging 11.6 points per game and leading the Jaguar women with 43 three-pointers.  The Mobile, native also shot 35 percent from beyond the arc - tied for eighth best in the league with Florida Atlantic's Lyrell Barfield.  For her career, Nettles ranks second on USA's career three-pointer list with 141 and will end her career ranked in the top 10 for career three-point shooting.

"This honor shows the respect that Shakira has gained from both coaches and media in our league over the course of her career," South Alabama head coach Rick Pietri said.  "For her, because of the kind of year that she has had whether it be with health related issues with her knee or personal issues with the passing of her father, it's been a difficult year for her, individually.  To gain an honor like this is definitely a nice accomplishment."

Despite those issues, the three-year starter competed in all but one game for USA this season - starting 27 of 28.  Nettles has recorded 18 double figure scoring games - giving her 60 for her career - and led the Jags in scoring on eight occasions this season.  She also posted four 20-point outings, including a 23 point effort on 10-of-17 shooting against Denver on "Senior Night".  Against Florida International on Dec. 31, Nettles became the 18th player at South Alabama to eclipse the 1,000 point mark for her career.  Coming into tournament play, she ranks 14th on USA's scoring chart with 1,212 points and is just 24 points shy of moving into 13th-place and 26 points shy of 12th-place.

Nettles and the rest of her teammates will begin play at this year's Sun Belt Conference Championships, when sixth-seed South Alabama opens up with 11th-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.  Tip-off between the Jags and the Ragin' Cajuns is set for Noon at Summit Arena Court in the Hot Springs Convention Center.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

NOTE:  Nettles is the 11th player at South Alabama to earn multiple all-Sun Belt honors during her career.

First Team All-Sun Belt
Chastity Reed (UALR, Jr., F)
Kaetlyn Murdoch (Denver, So., F.)
Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Brandi Brown (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Arnika Brown (WKU, Sr., F)

Second Team All-Sun Belt
Ebonie Jefferson (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Britteni Rice (Denver, Jr., G.)
Elisa Carey (FIU, Jr., F)
Jackie Pickel (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)
Amy McNear (WKU, Jr., G)

Third Team All-Sun Belt
Kim Sitzmann (UALR, Sr., G)
Brittany Bowe (Florida Atlantic, Sr., G)
Brittney James (North Texas, Sr., G)
Shakira Nettles (South Alabama, Sr., G)
Donette McNair (Troy University, Jr., F)

Player of the Year: Alysha Clark (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)

Defensive Player of the Year: Jackie Pickel (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)

Freshman of the Year: Jasmine Godbolt (North Texas, Fr., F)

Coach of the Year: Joe Foley, UALR

-- USA --