Wednesday, July 15, 2020

INDIANAPOLIS – Four standout student-athletes from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference are among a record number nominated for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.

Alaska Anchorage senior Yazmeen Goo, Alaska senior Brittany Richards, Saint Martin’s senior Bria Thames and Humboldt State senior Amelia Wagoner are among 605 nominees from every level of NCAA membership and 126 from Division II institutions.

Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year award recognizes graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.

Goo, a four-year performer for the Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball program, earned All-GNAC honors three times and was a first-selection in 2020. After leading the Seawolves to the GNAC championship and a 31-2 record this season, Goo earned Second Team D2CCA All-West Region honors and WBCA Honorable Mention All-America honors after averaging 10.1 points and 3.9 assists per game.

A justice major from Daly City, California, Goo was a three-time Academic All-GNAC selection. She has worked in the community with Fast and Female, an organization dedicated to keeping girls healthy and active in sports, and with Special Olympics.

Richards, a three-year member of the Alaska women’s basketball program, was one of six Nanooks to appear in all 29 games this season and started 28. She finished the season averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while making 72.4 percent from the free-throw line.

A business administration major from Dunedin, New Zealand, Richards was a two-time Academic All-GNAC selection. Her volunteer activities included work with Chi Alpha, a faith-based on-campus organization, the Betta Gamma Sigma international business honor society, and volunteering at the Raven Landing Senior Community. Richards was named the 2019-20 Alaska’s Business Administration Program Student of the Year.

Thames, a two-year standout for the Saint Martin’s women’s basketball program, earned Second Team All-GNAC honors in 2020. She led the GNAC and finished 14th in Division II with 11.3 rebounds per game. She was third in the conference with 15.2 points per game. Her senior season was highlighted by a 29-rebound performance against Concordia on January 18, setting the GNAC single-game record.

A psychology major from Beaverton, Oregon, Thames earned Academic All-GNAC honors in 2020. Off the court, Thames has been involved with Saint Martin’s Black Student Union and has served as an intern at Reed Elementary School in Tacoma.

Wagoner is a four-year member of the Humboldt State rowing program, which joined the GNAC this season as an affiliate member. She was among the Lumberjacks’ crew members that competed at the Head of the Lagoon Regatta in November before the spring season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the 2019 season, Wagoner was among the members who rowed in the varsity 8+ grand finals at the WIRA Championships.

A history education major from Coalinga, California, Wagoner earned Academic All-GNAC honors this season and is a two-time recipient of the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete Award. Off the water, Wagoner was active with Humboldt State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Sexual Assault Prevention Committee. She was active in campaigning for the passage of California Senate Bill 493, which called for strengthing rules and procedures for reporting sexual harassment and sexual assault cases statewide. Wagoner was honored by Equal Rights Advocates in 2019 with its Emerging Leaders of Courage Award.

Conference offices will select up to two student-athletes as conference finalists. Those finalists will be evaluated by the Woman of the Year selection committee, comprised of representatives of the NCAA membership. The committee will choose 30 finalists, 10 from each division, and will announce an overall award winner this fall.