February 17, 2009
San Antonio – St. Mary’s University women’s basketball player Rachel Jones was named Heartland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her play last week against Oklahoma Panhandle State University and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, it was announced by the league office on Tuesday.
Jones (Sr., Little Rock, Ark.) averaged 13.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. Against Oklahoma Panhandle State she nearly posted a triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Against Texas-Permian Basin she had a career-high 13 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks. For the season she is 11.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. She is shooting 43.0 percent from the field.
Excitement is building as the Rattlers move up in the national and regional polls because St. Mary’s will host the NCAA Division II Women’s Elite 8 (March 24, 25 and 27) and could have the opportunity to host the Heartland Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament (March 6 and 7) and the NCAA South Central Region Tournament (March 13-17) in Bill Greehey Arena.
Jones is the second Rattler to earn Heartland Conference Player of the Week this season. Natalie Gamez (Sr., San Antonio) has already earned the honor four times this season.
St. Mary’s is now 20-3 overall and 9-1 in Heartland Conference play. They will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they travel across town to take on the University of the Incarnate Word at 2 p.m.