LACEY, Wash. – Out of record 605 total nominations, Saint Martin's recent graduate Bria Thames was selected as one of the 39 conference level Division II honorees for the NCAA Woman of the Year on Tuesday.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year program is rooted in Title IX and has recognized graduating female college athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership since its inception in 1991.
 
Thames concluded her collegiate career with one of the greatest senior seasons in Saints' women's basketball history. In 27 games, Thames was third in the GNAC in scoring at 15.2 points per game, and led the conference at 11.3 rebounds per game. She was a second team All-Conference selection, a GNAC All-Academic selection, and a four time GNAC Player of the Week.
 
The highlight of the year for Thames came against Concordia, where the senior grabbed a conference record 29 rebounds. The mark was the second most in a single game in all of the NCAA Division II level.
 
Thames rounded out her season by ranking first in doubles-doubles in the conference at 14, along with fourth in minutes played, and sixth in field goal percentage. Her 14 doubles-doubles was 22nd most in the NCAA Division II.
 
The Woman of the Year Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will now choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division — from the conference-level nominees. The Top 30 honorees will be announced in September. From there, the selection committee will narrow the pool to three finalists from each division. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will select the 2020 Woman of the Year from the nine finalists.
 
The Top 30 honorees will be celebrated and the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named this fall.