Alexis Peterson, Syracuse WBB's Leading Scorer, Earns All-Conference Honors

All that Alexis Peterson knew about her role at the beginning of the season was that she would begin each game as Syracuse's starting point guard.  With a sensational sophomore season, she developed into the type of player that couldn't be taken out.

Not only has Peterson proven herself as one of the best players on Syracuse, but in the ACC.

She was named to the all-conference second team, which was announced on Tuesday. It's the second year in a row that a Syracuse player was recognized with second team honors after Brittney Sykes did so last season.

"It feels great," Peterson said.  "It’s a blessing from God and I appreciate it. I’m humbled and I’m grateful for the season and my teammates and I couldn’t have done it without them or the coaching staff."

Peterson averages 15.1 points per game, which leads Syracuse and ranks ninth in the conference.  It's not only Peterson's scoring that the Orange leans on, but her ability off the ball as well.  She has 2.4 steals and 4.3 assists per game, the most and third most in the conference, respectively.

"She plays really hard and she’s a good player," Quentin Hillsman said.  "Obviously, we’re fortunate to have a point guard that is a very good player that is second team all-conference in the best conference in the country. So it says a lot about her and a lot about her development."

Hillsman had a wide range of choices on who would replace Rachel Coffey at the point. Junior Cornelia Fondren had previous experience as the 1 and was joined by newcomers Maggie Morrison, Danielle Minott and Diamond Henderson.

But Hillsman chose to go with Peterson, a highly rated recruit out of high school, who had scored just 3.0 points per game in a limited role as a freshman.

Said Hillsman, "Coming into the year, we knew that we needed someone to step up big and we knew we’d need her to step up big at the point guard position.  She did that. I give her a lot of credit."

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All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team

• Elizabeth Williams, Sr., C/F, Duke
• Adut Bulgak, Jr., C, Florida State
• Kaela Davis, So., G, Georgia Tech
• Adrienne Motley, So., G, Miami
• Allisha Gray, So., G, North Carolina
• Stephanie Mavunga, So., F, North Carolina
• Jewell Loyd, Jr., G, Notre Dame
• Brianna Turner, Fr., F, Notre Dame
• Brianna Kiesel, Sr., G, Pitt
• Dearica Hamby, Sr., F, Wake Forest

All-Atlantic Coast Conference Second Team

• Azura Stevens, Fr., F/G, Duke
• Leticia Romero, So., G, Florida State
• Mariya Moore, Fr., G, Louisville
• Alexis Peterson, So., G, Syracuse
• Faith Randolph, Jr., G, Virginia

All-Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman Team

• Azura Stevens, Fr., F/G, Duke
• Shakayla Thomas, Fr., F, Florida State
• Mariya Moore, Fr., G, Louisville
• Brianna Turner, Fr., F, Notre Dame
• Mikayla Venson, Fr., G, Virginia