TicketsUNCASVILLE, Conn. – In addition to being a unanimous selection to the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team, University of Cincinnati women's basketball student-athlete IImar'I Thomas took home some additional hardware on Saturday as league Freshman of the Year.
Saturday's distinction marks the first time a UC player has earned a conference Freshman of the Year accolade since 2002 when Debbie Merrill (2002-04) was chosen as Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
In her rookie regular season, Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) has tallied 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in just 21.3 minutes of play per game in a reserve role off the bench. In AAC action, she posted 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds an outing.
Thomas is 27th in the league in points per game and 16th in rebounding. The 17-year-old shoots 60.7 percent from the field which is tops in The American and is second-best in a season in program history. Additionally, she ranks 12th in the conference in defensive rebounds per game at 4.4 and is 13th in blocked shots at 0.8.
The freshman has led UC in scoring twice this season and nine times in rebounding. In addition, she has totaled two double-doubles and scored in double-figures 13 times. Moreover, she posted season bests of 19 points and 11 rebounds against Howard on Dec. 14.
In total, the forward was named league Freshman of the Week an American-best five times in 2017-18.
Thomas earned All-Freshman Team honors yesterday with teammate senior guard Ana Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) picked for the All-AAC Third Team.
// UP NEXT
With Wednesday's win against Houston, the Bearcats clinched the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the 2018 Aaron's American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, March 3-6 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Red & Black will face the winner of the No. 12 Tulsa – No. 5 Houston matchup on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.
Saturday's distinction marks the first time a UC player has earned a conference Freshman of the Year accolade since 2002 when Debbie Merrill (2002-04) was chosen as Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
In her rookie regular season, Thomas (Oakland, Calif./Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) has tallied 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in just 21.3 minutes of play per game in a reserve role off the bench. In AAC action, she posted 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds an outing.
Thomas is 27th in the league in points per game and 16th in rebounding. The 17-year-old shoots 60.7 percent from the field which is tops in The American and is second-best in a season in program history. Additionally, she ranks 12th in the conference in defensive rebounds per game at 4.4 and is 13th in blocked shots at 0.8.
The freshman has led UC in scoring twice this season and nine times in rebounding. In addition, she has totaled two double-doubles and scored in double-figures 13 times. Moreover, she posted season bests of 19 points and 11 rebounds against Howard on Dec. 14.
In total, the forward was named league Freshman of the Week an American-best five times in 2017-18.
Thomas earned All-Freshman Team honors yesterday with teammate senior guard Ana Owen (Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North) picked for the All-AAC Third Team.
// UP NEXT
With Wednesday's win against Houston, the Bearcats clinched the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the 2018 Aaron's American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Championship, March 3-6 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Red & Black will face the winner of the No. 12 Tulsa – No. 5 Houston matchup on Sunday at 8:30 p.m.