LACEY, Wash. – For the first time in program history, the Saint Martin's women's basketball team has an All-American. Voted an honorable mention by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), Claire Dingus made history on Tuesday.
 
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The junior from Spokane Valley, Washington, earned the historic honor after averaging a double-double on the season. Dingus led the team in just about every statistical category. She averaged 17.5 points per game, 10.2 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and a 55.9 field goal percentage.
 
The awards began to pile up in the season, with her earning three GNAC Player of the Week awards, most in the conference. There were no All-Conference or All-Region awards announced this season.
 
Dingus' remarkable season began with a stellar six point, 15 rebound performance against Division-I Seattle U. The rebounding mark tied her career-high. After averaging 7.0 points, and 10.5 rebounds against Seattle Pacific, Dingus became an unstoppable force.
 
She claimed her first GNAC Player of the Week after scoring 25-points, and a career-high 16 rebounds against Northwest Nazarene. She followed it up with a 28-point effort on 13-for-16 shooting, setting a new career-high in points scored.
 
Over the course of the next four games, Dingus averaged 21.4 points per game, while grabbing 9.3 rebounds, leading to two more GNAC Player of the Week awards.
 
In the final weekend of the season, Dingus led the Saints to two key victories to secure the program's second straight winning season. The forward was good for a total of 47 points, and 21 rebounds.
 
Not only did Dingus lead the Saints on the offensive end, but also on the defensive, heading up the Saints' 1-3-1 zone defense. In 13 games, Dingus recorded at least two steals in eight games, highlighted by a five steal performance against Northwest.
 
The award marks a historic moment for the Saints, and Dingus as she becomes the first NCAA All-American selection in program history. She is the first Saint to earn the any All-American honor since Olivia Carillo earned NAIA All-American in 1996.
 
About the WBCA 
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.