TicketsCINCINNATI – University of Cincinnati women's basketball senior forward IImar'I Thomas (first name pronounced ee-MAR-ee) has been named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year for 2020-21.
Thomas received all 50 voting points from the league's coaches to be the only conference player to earn unanimous First Team All-AAC honors for the second consecutive season.
Thomas becomes the first player in school history to earn first team all-conference honors three times (2019-21) and the first Bearcat named conference player of the year since Cheryl Cook (Metro Conference, 1984 and 1985).
The latest AAC awards add to an impressive career list already for Thomas that includes WBCA Honorable Mention All-America and unanimous First Team All-AAC selections last season, First Team All-AAC honors as a sophomore in 2018-19 and AAC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous All-Freshman Team selections in 2017-18.
The versatilely gifted Thomas has ranked among conference and national leaders in multiple categories throughout the season, displayed several standout scoring performance, grabbed ahold of school and national marks and been selected among elite student-athletes for national awards.
LEAGUE AND NATIONAL RANKINGS
Thomas entered the weekend ranked among the nation's Top 30 in nine categories for 2020-21, including minutes played per game (second at 39.37), field goals made (fourth at 195), total points (sixth at 526), points per game (seventh at 23.9), free throws made (seventh at 126), total minutes played (eighth at 866), free throws attempted (14th at 154), field goal percentage (22nd at .545) and field goals attempted (29th at 358).
The Oakland, California, native ranks atop all AAC players in 10 national categories, the nine listed above, as well as free throw percentage (81.8). She also ranked among the AAC's Top 10 leaders in rebounds (sixth at 7.5), offensive rebounds (sixth at 2.6), defensive rebounds (seventh at 4.8), assists (seventh at 3.5), blocks (ninth at 1.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th at 1.5).
A popular choice for weekly AAC accolades throughout the season, Thomas was recognized by the league eight times in 2020-21, earning player of the week honors four times (Nov. 30, Jan. 4, Mar. 1, and Mar. 5) and weekly honor roll accolades four times (Dec. 14, Dec. 28, Jan. 25 and Feb. 15).
AMAZING PERFORMANCES
Thomas set the UC women's basketball record and the AAC record for most points in a game when she poured in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds at East Carolina on Feb. 24. She went 20 of 27 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. The effort still stands as the most points in a Division I men's or women's basketball game this season. She joined Oscar Robertson as the only two player in UC history to score 50 or points in a game. Robertson accomplished the feat six times, the last coming via a school-record 62-point performance against North Texas in 1960.
The feat earned Thomas national player of the week honors from the Unites States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).
In all, Thomas has scored 30 or more points five times and 20 or more points on 18 occasions this season. She scored 23 or more points in each of UC's first nine games of the season. She has scored 22 or more points in seven of UC's last eight games.
Thomas scored 32 points, missing only four total shots against Marquette on Dec. 10, making 9 of 11 field goals and 14 of 16 free throws. She tallied 34 points in the season opener against Northern Kentucky and scored 30 points each in both matchups with Houston.
MAKING HER MARK IN THE UC RECORD BOOK
The only player in school history to achieve at least 1,800 career points and 800 career rebounds, Thomas ranks among the program's best in multiple career categories entering the postseason, including field goal percentage (first at .583), blocks (second at 127), field goals made (second at 746), points (third at 1,882), rebounds (fourth at 858) and rebound average (tied for eighth at 7.1).
CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Thomas was recently named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award as well as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
Thomas is the first UC women's basketball player selected as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award since its inception in 2002.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 women's candidates announced earlier in the season. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 22. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipients will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Women's Final Four.
To vote for Thomas, visit cpaw.me/voteiimari.
2021 AAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR-SEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Coach of the Year
Jose Fernandez, USF
Defensive Player of the Year
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Most Improved Player of the Year
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Co-Sixth Players of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Maria Alvarez, So., G, USF
Ambassador Award
Sierra Cheatham, Sr., G, Tulane
First Team All-Conference
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati*
Bethy Mununga, Sr., F, USF
Elena Tsineke, So., G, USF
Mia Davis, Sr., F, Temple
JerKaila Jordan, Fr. G, Tulane
Second Team All-Conference
Courtajia Sanders, Sr., G, UCF
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Asia Strong, Jr., F, Wichita State
Third Team All-Conference
Brittney Smith, Jr., F, UCF
Miya Crump, R-So., G, Houston
Sydni Harvey, Jr., G, USF
Krystal Freeman, Sr., F, Tulane
Maya Mayberry, Jr., G, Tulsa
All-Freshman Team
Jillian Hayes, Fr., G, Cincinnati
Laila Blair, Fr., G, Houston
Jasha Clinton, Fr., G, Temple*
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Wyvette Mayberry, Fr., G, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
Cincinnati takes on Memphis in first-round action at the AAC Championship, Mar. 8, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Thomas received all 50 voting points from the league's coaches to be the only conference player to earn unanimous First Team All-AAC honors for the second consecutive season.
Thomas becomes the first player in school history to earn first team all-conference honors three times (2019-21) and the first Bearcat named conference player of the year since Cheryl Cook (Metro Conference, 1984 and 1985).
The latest AAC awards add to an impressive career list already for Thomas that includes WBCA Honorable Mention All-America and unanimous First Team All-AAC selections last season, First Team All-AAC honors as a sophomore in 2018-19 and AAC Freshman of the Year and a unanimous All-Freshman Team selections in 2017-18.
The versatilely gifted Thomas has ranked among conference and national leaders in multiple categories throughout the season, displayed several standout scoring performance, grabbed ahold of school and national marks and been selected among elite student-athletes for national awards.
LEAGUE AND NATIONAL RANKINGS
Thomas entered the weekend ranked among the nation's Top 30 in nine categories for 2020-21, including minutes played per game (second at 39.37), field goals made (fourth at 195), total points (sixth at 526), points per game (seventh at 23.9), free throws made (seventh at 126), total minutes played (eighth at 866), free throws attempted (14th at 154), field goal percentage (22nd at .545) and field goals attempted (29th at 358).
The Oakland, California, native ranks atop all AAC players in 10 national categories, the nine listed above, as well as free throw percentage (81.8). She also ranked among the AAC's Top 10 leaders in rebounds (sixth at 7.5), offensive rebounds (sixth at 2.6), defensive rebounds (seventh at 4.8), assists (seventh at 3.5), blocks (ninth at 1.1) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th at 1.5).
A popular choice for weekly AAC accolades throughout the season, Thomas was recognized by the league eight times in 2020-21, earning player of the week honors four times (Nov. 30, Jan. 4, Mar. 1, and Mar. 5) and weekly honor roll accolades four times (Dec. 14, Dec. 28, Jan. 25 and Feb. 15).
AMAZING PERFORMANCES
Thomas set the UC women's basketball record and the AAC record for most points in a game when she poured in 51 points to go with 12 rebounds at East Carolina on Feb. 24. She went 20 of 27 from the field and 11 of 13 from the free-throw line. The effort still stands as the most points in a Division I men's or women's basketball game this season. She joined Oscar Robertson as the only two player in UC history to score 50 or points in a game. Robertson accomplished the feat six times, the last coming via a school-record 62-point performance against North Texas in 1960.
The feat earned Thomas national player of the week honors from the Unites States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).
In all, Thomas has scored 30 or more points five times and 20 or more points on 18 occasions this season. She scored 23 or more points in each of UC's first nine games of the season. She has scored 22 or more points in seven of UC's last eight games.
Thomas scored 32 points, missing only four total shots against Marquette on Dec. 10, making 9 of 11 field goals and 14 of 16 free throws. She tallied 34 points in the season opener against Northern Kentucky and scored 30 points each in both matchups with Houston.
MAKING HER MARK IN THE UC RECORD BOOK
The only player in school history to achieve at least 1,800 career points and 800 career rebounds, Thomas ranks among the program's best in multiple career categories entering the postseason, including field goal percentage (first at .583), blocks (second at 127), field goals made (second at 746), points (third at 1,882), rebounds (fourth at 858) and rebound average (tied for eighth at 7.1).
CONSIDERED FOR ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Thomas was recently named a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award as well as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
Thomas is the first UC women's basketball player selected as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award since its inception in 2002.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 women's candidates announced earlier in the season. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 22. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winners. The Senior CLASS Award recipients will be announced during the 2021 NCAA Women's Final Four.
To vote for Thomas, visit cpaw.me/voteiimari.
2021 AAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR-SEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati
Freshman of the Year
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Coach of the Year
Jose Fernandez, USF
Defensive Player of the Year
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Newcomer of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Most Improved Player of the Year
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Co-Sixth Players of the Year
Alisha Lewis, So., G, UCF
Maria Alvarez, So., G, USF
Ambassador Award
Sierra Cheatham, Sr., G, Tulane
First Team All-Conference
IImar'I Thomas, Sr., F, Cincinnati*
Bethy Mununga, Sr., F, USF
Elena Tsineke, So., G, USF
Mia Davis, Sr., F, Temple
JerKaila Jordan, Fr. G, Tulane
Second Team All-Conference
Courtajia Sanders, Sr., G, UCF
Lashonda Monk, Sr., G, East Carolina
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, Memphis
Elisa Pinzan, Jr., PG, USF
Asia Strong, Jr., F, Wichita State
Third Team All-Conference
Brittney Smith, Jr., F, UCF
Miya Crump, R-So., G, Houston
Sydni Harvey, Jr., G, USF
Krystal Freeman, Sr., F, Tulane
Maya Mayberry, Jr., G, Tulsa
All-Freshman Team
Jillian Hayes, Fr., G, Cincinnati
Laila Blair, Fr., G, Houston
Jasha Clinton, Fr., G, Temple*
JerKaila Jordan, Fr., G, Tulane*
Wyvette Mayberry, Fr., G, Tulsa*
*denotes unanimous selection
UP NEXT
Cincinnati takes on Memphis in first-round action at the AAC Championship, Mar. 8, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.