FMU pair gains WBCA honorable mention All-America recognition

FLORENCE, S.C. - Francis Marion University senior point guard Kevina Ransom and sophomore guard-forward Shannon Singleton-Bates have both received honorable mention All-America recognition from the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA).
The WBCA and State Farm recently announced the 10-member NCAA Division II State Farm Coaches’ All-America Basketball Team and the honorable mention list that includes 31 players.
Ransom, a native of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., helped direct the high-powered Patriot attack by leading the Peach Belt Conference and ranking second nationally in steals per game (4.5) and being second in the conference with 5.3 assists per game (18th nationally). Despite playing only 22.8 minutes per contest, she averaged 10.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. She ranked fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio in the PBC, connected on 46.1 percent of her field goal attempts and 76.1 percent of her free throws (11th-best in the PBC).
She recorded four games with double-figure assists this past season, two of which came in contests she did not start.
In only two seasons at FMU, the 5-5 Ransom climbed to third on the program’s all-time steals list with 289 and eighth in career assists with 347.
Singleton-Bates, a native of South Norwalk, Conn., led Francis Marion in scoring and rebounding with per-game averages of 13.0 points (fifth-best in the PBC) and 5.1 rebounds. At 5-10, she was third on the team with 17 blocked shots, recorded 46 steals, and shot 43.6 percent from the floor and 75.0 percent at the free throw line (13th-best in the PBC).
She scored in double figures in 24 of 32 games, including six games of 20 or more points.
The two helped lead Francis Marion to 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. FMU won two games in the Southeast Regional and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fifth time in team history.
Ransom is a product of Northwest Halifax High School, and was an honorable mention All-American at Louisburg College before transferring to FMU.
Singleton-Bates is a product of Norwalk High School, where she was a two-time first-team All-State selection and a three-time All-Conference and All-Area pick, while scoring more than 1,300 career points.