Three Women’s Basketball Signees Named McDonald’s All-America Nominees

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the first time in program history, Belmont women's basketball will have three McDonald's All-America nominees in the same incoming class.  Three Class of 2011 Bruin signees – Blair Bryce, Amara Mayers, and Adrienne Tarrance – were recently nominated to the prestigious McDonald's All-American Team.

The trio will now move to on the National ballot with final team rosters being announced during the selection show at 3:30 p.m. on February 10 on ESPNU.  The McDonald's girls game is slated for March 30 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

Red Oak, Texas native Bryce is now returning to Coach Andy Zihlman's Bishop Lynch High School team, following her recovery from an elbow injury earlier this season.  As she nears full recovery, the 6-5 Bryce continues to make personal strides toward developing into a more dominant inside force and will be a huge factor in the Lady Friars' quest for a repeat 5A Texas state championship.

Mayers has been on fire in leading a very talented Madison Academy team to a number 21 national ranking on ESPN's Fab50, as well as twenty-three consecutive weeks as number one on the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A state rankings.  This season, the Harvest, Ala., native has led Coach Brian Privett's team to a 20-2 record with wins over ranked schools in higher classifications and Mayers, who is averaging 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, also helped her team to a pair of tournament championships at the Huntsville Times Ladies Classic and the Decatur Orthopaedic Clinic Classic, where she was named Most Valuable Player. 

Tarrence, a native of Bowling Green, Ky., has continued to show her versatility on coach LaVonda Johnson's Bowling Green High School team.  This season, she is averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals, leading the Lady Purples to a 12-1 record.  Tarrence and her BGHS teammates have won an astounding 40 consecutive Region 4 regular season games, dating back to 2008.  In December, she was named to the All-Tournament team at the prestigious Republic Bank Holiday Classic after nearly averaging a triple-double through four games.

The initial list of potential names is gathered by Sports America, Inc., which has worked with McDonald's in connection with the McDonald's All American Game since it was founded in 1978. Names are submitted by members of the Selection Committee as well as state representatives who religiously follow the prep scene in their areas. Many rising seniors make this list based on an excellent junior year or for having an outstanding summer participating in summer camps and AAU tournaments. Traditionally, the final total is between 900 to 1,200 for girls.

More about the McDonald's All-American program, including a complete list of 2011 nominees, can be found by visiting www.McDonaldsAllAmerican.com.