Francis Marion inks Strom Thurmond cager

FLORENCE, S.C. – Francis Marion University women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has announced the signing of 5-8 guard Courtney Mealing of North Augusta, S.C., to a national letter of intent during the recent signing period.

Mealing is a senior at Strom Thurmond High School, where she played for coach Jessica Parker.
This past season, she averaged 29.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 4.2 steals per game for a 24-4 Lady Rebels squad that captured the Region 3-AA championship, and advanced to the Class AA upper state title game. She was selected her region’s Player of the Year for the second straight year, while earning All-Region honors for the fourth time. She also connected on 46.2 percent of her field goal attempts.

During the 2009 state tournament, she posted scoring totals of 51, 21, 30, and 42 points. A three-time All-State selection, Mealing was named South Carolina's 2009 Class AA Player of the Year, as well as The Augusta Chronicle All-Area South Carolina Girls Player of the Year for the second time. She scored a team-high 21 points for the South Carolina All-Stars at the 2009 Carolinas All-Star Classic Game in March.

As a six-year starter, she concluded her prep career as her school's all-time leading scorer with 2,781 career points, while posting career averages of 20.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.9 steals per game.

“Courtney is the perfect fit for FMU,” said Macy. “She can score in so many different ways, plus she is a competitor. I’m looking forward to coaching her for the next 4 years!”

Mealing said, “I’m looking forward to continuing my winning ways at Francis Marion. I feel like this is the best fit for me, and coach Macy has proven that she knows how to win. She has turned Francis Marion into one of the top programs in Division II basketball and I can’t wait!”

Francis Marion concluded its most recent season with a 27-5 record, a No. 14 national ranking, the squad’s second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, and its second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Macy previously announced the signing of 5-7 guard Kristen Dickerson of Columbia, S.C., during the early signing period.