Phebe Smith Named PBC Player of the Year for Second Year in a Row

Aiken, S.C. -- Columbus State senior post player Phebe Smith found herself in familiar territory Friday night. Almost exactly one year ago, Smith was named Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year for 2008-09. Friday night, she earned the honor again. The announcement was made at the PBC Awards Banquet on the eve of the 2010 PBC Basketball Championships. 

Smith became just the third women's player in PBC history to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. Smith ended the season ranked third in the PBC in scoring with 17.8 points per game, and led the PBC in every rebounding statistic, finishing with an average of 12.1 grabs per game. 

In just two seasons at CSU, Smith scored 1,122 points and grabbed 692 rebounds. Those numbers moved her into fifth on the all-time scoring lists and third on the rebounding list. She is the only two-year player to appear in the top five in each category. In addition to those marks, this season she also became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots in a career with 78. She swatted away 50 shots this season, coupled with 28 last year and bypassed Aja Brown for the career mark. Brown had 65 blocks in her one season at CSU back in 2001-02.

In other awards on Friday, North Georgia's Janyce Ealey was named Freshman of the Year, while Robin Colbert of Francis Marion was named Defensive Player of the Year. Lander's Kevin Pederson was named Coach of the Year.