Two Seattle University women's basketball players have been named to the 2012 Division I All-Independent Women's Basketball Team. Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.) and Talisa Rhea (Juneau, Alaska) have received this recognition.
Sowell is the only sophomore to be named to the All-Independent team, as all of the other members are upperclassmen. She currently ranks fifth nationally in Division I field-goal percentage (57.7 percent) and is tied for 11th in the country with 17 double-doubles so far this season. She also ranks first in field-goal percentage and third in double-doubles among players in the Women's Basketball Invitational. Sowell is currently averaging a double-double this season, leading the team in scoring (14.3 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg). She was named College Sports Madness Independent Player of the Week six times this season.
Rhea receives this recognition in her first and final season with the Redhawks. She is the team leader in assists (162) and is second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg). She has been named College Sports Madness Independent Player of the Week three times and is one of only three players on the team to notch a double-double this season. Rhea is tied for 26th in the nation in assists per game (5.2) and is ranked second among players competing in the WBI in assists per game.
Both Sowell and Rhea have started all 31 games for Seattle U so far this season. They also previously received other end-of-season honors as they were both named First-Team All-Conference. Sowell was also named College Sports Madness Player of the Year as well as being named to the Fourth-Team All-Mid Major.
Also named to the team are CSU Bakersfield redshirt-junior Lauren Carter, Longwood junior Chelsea Coward, CSU Bakersfield redshirt-senior Kristine Herman, and Longwood junior Crystal Smith.