YORK, Pa. -- For the first time in the 2015-16 season, a Christopher Newport women's basketball player has been named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Sophomore Anitra Thomas (Lynchburg, Va.) hauled in the accolade after helping lead the Captains (13-2, 6-2) to a pair of key CAC victories over Mary Washington on the road and York College (Pa.) at home. 

With the wins, CNU moved into a three-way tie with the Eagles and Spartans for second-place in the league standings, trailing first-place Marymount University by just one game. Thomas was a major factor in the two victories, registering a career-high in rebounds at Mary Washington, with seven, and a new career-best in scoring against the Spartans, with 23. 

First, on the road in Fredericksburg, Thomas played 26 minutes against Mary Washington and finished with eight points to go with her seven rebounds. She helped ice the game with a layup and perfect 4-for-4 performance at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Then, at home against the Spartans, the second-year guard exploded for a career-high 23 points in a 20-point win against York. She breezed past her previous career high of 16 points, set and subsequently matched earlier this year, and led the Captains' explosive offense in scoring for the fifth time this season. It was only the fourth time this season a CNU player reached 20 points and the highest scoring output since 2014 when Camry Green poured in 25 at home against Salisbury.

She was 9-of-16 from the field with four three-pointers made, while grabbing two rebounds and chipping in four assists against York. After the stellar offensive effort, Thomas finished the 2-0 week averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 52.4% from the floor. For the season, Thomas currently leads the league in overall field goal percentage, at 57.8%, and three-point field goal percentage, burying 48.9% of her attempts from long range.

The Captains have won all seven games since Thomas has moved into the starting lineup and are currently riding an eight-game winning streak. CNU will put that roll on the line Wednesday as they travel to St. Mary's (Md.) (5-10, 3-5) at 6:00 pm for the first of three straight road games.