SANTA CLARA, Calif. – After a record-setting week, Nici Gilday of Santa Clara women's basketball was named the West Coast Conference Player of the week. Gilday scored a program-best 40 points vs. LMU on Feb. 27 and followed it up with 22 vs. Pepperdine on March 1.
"I feel honored to have been recognized as Player of the Week," said Gilday. "Given the timing of the passing of my former coach, Creighton Lane, it is especially meaningful. I was trying to make him proud and I'm grateful for my teammates' help in making that happen."
"Nici is very deserving of being named Player of the Week as she had a tremendous week," said Santa Clara head coach Jennifer Mountain. "She went off for 40 points vs. LMU and then came back and took over the game a little bit in the second half vs. Pepperdine. She was tremendous this week and I'm very proud of her."
Gilday scored a program-best 40 points vs. LMU on Thursday on 15-23 shooting. The makes and attempts were career-highs for Gilday. Earlier this season she set a career-high with 34 points at LMU. This season Gilday is averaging 37.0 ppg vs. the Lions. The previous program-high for points in a game was 39 points by Dorinda Lindstrom at Fresno State on Nov. 30, 1986. Gilday's 15 field goals were also second in the history of the program, behind only Lindstrom in the same game when she made 17 from the floor. Gilday's 40 points were also the second-highest output in the WCC this season. Bria Richardson of Pepperdine scored 44 vs. Santa Clara on Jan. 2.
She followed it up with a 22-point performance vs. Pepperdine on Senior Day. On the week, Gilday averaged 31.0 points per game, 36.0 minutes per game, 2.5 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per game. She shot 57.5% from the field to spark her offensive outburst.