ROME, Ga. – Salem's Sydney Bowen was named to the USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team when the league announced its postseason basketball awards on Thursday, February 24th.
Bowen becomes the third different Spirit to receive accolades from the league this season. Teammates Tamsi Echendu (Nov. 29) and Alize Munn (Feb. 14) were named USA South Rookie of the Week over the course of the campaign. When Echendu received the award in November it marked the first time a Salem player received that distinction in league history.
Bowen is the fifth individual in Salem history to earn a spot on the All-Sportsmanship Team. The previous members from Salem include Alexihonna Bush (2016-17), Tarryn Johnson (2017-18), Aaliyah Webb (2018-19) and Lauren Privette (2019-20).
A native of Gastonia, N.C., Bowen closed out her Salem career in 2021-22 by ranking in the Top-15 of three major statistical categories. She leaves with the 15th-most points in program history (420), ranked sixth in 3-pointers made (59) and is ninth in Spirit history with 104 assists. She was also an active defender with 181 rebounds, including 151 on the defensive glass, 153 field goals, 55 free throws and 54 steals.
In 2021-22, Bowen started in 18 of the 22 games that she played, logging 375 minutes along the way. Over the course of the season she knocked down 22 field goals, including a pair from beyond the arc, and grabbed 45 rebounds (38 defensive). She was one of five players on the team with at least 20 assists, finishing with 23 on the slate, and forced eight steals.
Bowen played in 16 contests against league foes, making 12 starts this season. She finished with 15 field goals and grabbed 31 rebounds (25 defensive). Furthermore, she combined for 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists in Salem's four wins in 2021-22.
2021-22 USA South All-Conference Awards
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Livia Skinner, Piedmont
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Kiley Hicks, Methodist
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia
COACH OF THE YEAR: Lynette Schroeder, Southern Virginia
First Team All-Conference
Savanna Christensen, Southern Virginia
Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia
Aaliyah Hampton, Berea
Ta'Keria Legette, Greensboro
Lauren Livingston, Greensboro
Livia Skinner, Piedmont
First Team East Division
Savanna Christensen, Southern Virginia
Katie Garrish, Southern Virginia
Jalen Gathers, Mary Baldwin
Ta'Keria Legette, Greensboro
Lauren Livingston, Greensboro
Kate Perko, Meredith
Second Team East Division
Kayrisma Harrison, N.C. Wesleyan
Kayla Johnson, N.C. Wesleyan
Camryn Lunsford, Averett
Courtney McKrola, Southern Virginia
Quadijah Moore, Greensboro
Demet Saygili, Mary Baldwin
First Team West Division
Gracie Brunel, LaGrange
Destiny Combs, Berea
Aaliyah Hampton, Berea
Jordan Heifner, Maryville
Livia Skinner, Piedmont
Destiny Williams, Brevard
Second Team West Division
Cosette Kirsch, Covenant
Jalaya Lewis, LaGrange
Ruthie Moore, Covenant
Bailee Vanover, Berea
Klaire Varney, Piedmont
Nakiyah Washington, Piedmont
All-Sportsmanship
Lindsay Moore, Agnes Scott
Jihnez Huthinson, Averett
Bailee Vanover, Berea
Avery Lockwood, Brevard
Nichole Rittgers, Covenant
Karli Mason, Greensboro
Janaiya Mintze, Huntingdon
Jada Brown, LaGrange
Mary Moran, Mary Baldwin
Anna Kate Bechman, Maryville
Madi Leonard, Meredith
Trinity Ross, Methodist
Nadia Simmons, N.C. Wesleyan
Tanaesha Ellison, Pfeiffer
Karla Cantrell, Piedmont
Sydney Bowen, Salem
Ciarra Owen, Southern Virginia
Kelsey Houpt, Wesleyan
Cierra Baker, William Peace