June 12, 2007

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss' Trey Sutton and Kristin Chaney were named Conference USA Co-Scholar Athletes of the Year for baseball and women's basketball, respectively, as announced by Conference USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky.

C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year awards are presented to the top student-athletes in each conference-sponsored sport. The award is based on academic achievement, athletic achievement and service.

Sutton, who has a 3.75 grade point average and is majoring in business administration, shares the award for baseball with Houston's Josh Stirneman. The first baseman, who was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American First Team, has been on the President's List once and the dean's list four times. He has been on the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and was selected as a C-USA Academic Medalist for two years. He also was named to the All-Conference USA first team, earning his third all-conference selection.

Southern Miss' leadoff hitter led the Golden Eagles in hitting (.368), runs scored (69), hits (88), doubles (18), triples (3), total bases (136), slugging percentage (.569), on-base percentage (.459), putouts (527), fielding percentage among infielders (.995) and fielding double plays (42). He was first in fewest strikeouts among starters and second on the team in home runs (8), RBIs (38) and third in walks (38).

Chaney, who shares the women's basketball award with Tulane's Jami Montagnino, was a Conference USA Academic medalist and a three-time Dean's List honoree. She has a 3.75 GPA in sport administration and was a member of the Distinguished Leadership in Coaching and Sport Administration Association. She also was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team and received Southern Miss women's basketball's Lady Eagle Award, an award based on success in the classroom, on the court and community involvement.

The 5-4 senior point guard accomplished Conference USA's third triple-double in the league's history in an 85-59 win over Memphis on Feb. 15. She finished the game with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. She was the team leader in assists (7.03), which ranked her fourth in the NCAA and first in C-USA, and steals (2.17) per game.