University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Gets JuCo Standout
4/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced the signing of Brittny Norris of Dallas, Texas, to a national letter of intent and grant-in-aid scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year.
"We are excited to have Brittny as a part of our Lady Eagle family," McNelis said. "She is of great character, good work ethic and is passionate about being a difference maker. Brittny plays in one of the toughest leagues in all of Junior College and is coached by Coach Trenia Tillis Jones who was a blue collar player that had much success and coaches her players with that attitude. Brittny is expected to help fill the role of senior Brooke Rhodes. Brittny is an athletic three-ball shooter who will help extend the defense. She made 20 more threes than Brooke did this season. Brittny also expects to achieve academic excellence and hopes to pursue a degree in nursing. Brittny brings the total package of what is important to us as a Lady Eagle."
Norris, a 5-9, guard, played at Tyler Junior College where she averaged 17.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for Coach Trenia Tillis-Jones. She was named to the WBCA All-American honorable mention team. She was tabbed the PSN Sports Network Player of the Year and a first team All-Region XIV selection and a first team All-Southwest Junior College Conference honoree. Norris helped lead Tyler Junior College to a 59-11 record in the past two seasons and two NJCAA National Tournament appearances. She led the region in scoring, was second in three-pointer made and first in three-point field goal percentage.
Norris played at Bishop Lynch High School where she averaged 15.0 points and 5.3 rebounds as a senior. She earned 2012-2013 All-State TABC Private 5A, 2012-2013 All-State Team TAPPS 5A, 2012-2013 All District TAPPS 5A honors. She was named the 2012-2013 Offensive player of year TAPPS 5A and a member of the 2013 14th Annual Texas Round Up All-Star Team. She also was named to numerous all-tournament teams during her four-year career. In addition, Norris was a four-year letterwinner while earning all-district MVP accolades two times. She recorded a game-high 34 points as a sophomore and record 27 games with double figures including seven games with 20 or more points. Norris also lettered in volleyball and track and field.
"I chose to complete my undergraduate college degree at the University of Southern Mississippi because of the possibility of being able to be a nursing student and participate in women's basketball," Norris said. "The beautiful campus, the location and size is ideal for me as a student. The value system of the women's basketball staff is very similar to the values that I cherish. There seems to be a climate of academic success and a community connection to the University that I notice during my recruiting visit that encourage me to want to become a student at this University. I'm looking forward to helping the Women basketball organization continue to build on a winning tradition as a Lady eagle."
