After helping the Seattle University women’s basketball team earn two key victories to move into a tie for second place in the conference standings, senior guard Jackie Thomas (Tacoma, Wash.) has been named GNAC Co-Player of the Week, announced Monday morning by the conference office.
Thursday night against Western Washington, Thomas scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, plus she earned three rebounds, three assists, and five steals. She scored nine points during Seattle University’s 19-0 run to start the second half, picking up two of her steals in the first three minutes as the team picked up its defensive intensity after halftime.
Playing a season-high 36 minutes Saturday against Central Washington, Thomas led Seattle University with 14 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She added two rebounds, two assists, and four steals before fouling out in the final minute of the game on an aggressive drive to the basket. She became a vocal leader from the bench as Seattle completed its comeback and defeated the Wildcats, 54-51.
Thomas presently leads the GNAC with three steals per game and is eighth in the conference in assists, averaging 3.08 assists per contest. She is tied for second on Seattle’s all-time steals list and tenth in GNAC history with 189 career thefts, just four steals behind Marisa Young for the school career record. This is the first weekly honor in Thomas’ career and the second time a Seattle University player has been honored, with Quinn Brewe (Edmonds, Wash.) winning the award on Dec. 24.
Seattle University (12-1, 3-1 GNAC) hosts Montana State Billings (6-7, 3-1 GNAC) Saturday, Jan. 19, at the Connolly Center beginning at 7 p.m. The Redhawks and the Yellowjackets are two of four teams with one conference loss chasing Seattle Pacific, the only undefeated team in the GNAC.