DENVER – Kamira Sanders of Seattle University women's basketball has been named 2019-20 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Defensive Player of the Year and All-WAC First Team. She was also picked to the league's all-defensive team.
"Her basic instinct is to find the ball and steal the ball," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "She will sacrifice all to win the game. Kamira has quietly moved her way up the scoring record books and I've been blessed that our paths crossed."
Sanders, a senior from Redding, Calif., put together her best season as a Redhawk on her way to all-conference recognition. The guard averaged 17.2 points per game in WAC play, leading the conference. Sanders also tallied a WAC-leading 2.7 steals per game. Her 3.5 assists (sixth), 34.3 minutes (sixth), and 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (ninth) ranked in the top 10 in league action this year.
In 16 WAC games, Sanders put up 10 multi-steal outings, including a career-high-tying seven thefts at New Mexico State on Jan. 18. She recorded three double-doubles on the season.
Sanders stands in the top 10 in program history in seven statistical categories. She is third in steals (229), sixth in made free throws (317), seventh in assists (335), field goal attempts (1,215), and free throw attempts (462), and eighth in points (1,414) and made field goals (507).
Sanders is just the second Redhawk to claim WAC Defensive Player of the Year, joining Sylvia Shephard, who won the award in 2012-13.
Seattle U will face Utah Valley in the first round of the 2020 WAC Tournament on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
"Her basic instinct is to find the ball and steal the ball," said Coach Suzy Barcomb. "She will sacrifice all to win the game. Kamira has quietly moved her way up the scoring record books and I've been blessed that our paths crossed."
Sanders, a senior from Redding, Calif., put together her best season as a Redhawk on her way to all-conference recognition. The guard averaged 17.2 points per game in WAC play, leading the conference. Sanders also tallied a WAC-leading 2.7 steals per game. Her 3.5 assists (sixth), 34.3 minutes (sixth), and 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (ninth) ranked in the top 10 in league action this year.
In 16 WAC games, Sanders put up 10 multi-steal outings, including a career-high-tying seven thefts at New Mexico State on Jan. 18. She recorded three double-doubles on the season.
Sanders stands in the top 10 in program history in seven statistical categories. She is third in steals (229), sixth in made free throws (317), seventh in assists (335), field goal attempts (1,215), and free throw attempts (462), and eighth in points (1,414) and made field goals (507).
Sanders is just the second Redhawk to claim WAC Defensive Player of the Year, joining Sylvia Shephard, who won the award in 2012-13.
Seattle U will face Utah Valley in the first round of the 2020 WAC Tournament on Wednesday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at The Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.